1. The Pentateuch (II)

2. The Meaning of Torah Individual Pronouncement Num 19:14; 31:21; Exod 12:49 Laws on Similar Subject Num 6:13, 21; Lev 6:9 Particular Collection of Laws Exod 20:1-17; 24:12; Deut 31:9 General Description for God’s Law Gen 26:5; Exod 18:16; Deut 4:8 Combination of Narrative and Law Deut 1:5

3. The Mosaic Covenant: Law and Worship Torah expresses the will of God The law preserved the sense of God’s presence in 2 ways: The Priestly law: dwelling of God among his people Character of Yahweh pervades all the law collections God’s redeeming grace as a foundation for living under the law

4. The Mosaic Covenant The covenant was associated with God’s promise To enable Israel to live as God’s people. E.g. Israel should imitate God’s holiness (Lev 19:2) compassion (Ex 22:26-27) justice (Deut 16:18-20) merciful to aliens (Lev 19:33-34), slaves (Deut 15:12-15)

5. Nash Papyrus 2 nd Century BC Hebrew Decalogue

6. Four main collections of laws Decalogue (Exod 20:1-17; Deut 5:1-21; Exod 34:10-28) and the Book of the Covenant (aka the Covenant Code) in Exod 20-23. Tabernacle Law (Exod 25-40) The Laws of Leviticus (Lev 1-27) The Laws of Deuteronomy or Deuteronomic Code (Deut 12-26)

7. Different ways of grouping laws Division by content: moral civil ceremonial Division by form-critical method: Apodictic Casuistic

8. Alt’s categorization Apodictic: unconditional, categorical assertion Prohibitions in the Ten Commandments: “You shall not kill” (e.g. Exod 20:13) Active participle laws (e.g. Exod 21:12) Curses (e.g. Deut 27:24)

9. Alt’s categorization Casuistic law: defines a specific case, e.g. Ex 21:18-19 Twofold formulation: a protasis with a “when” or “if” clauses, and an apodosis “then” stating the legal consequences of the case Units of casuistic laws are logically ordered, similar cases are treated together and juxtaposed to cases with different rulings

10. The Uniqueness of the Decalogue The Decalogue is the “foundation scroll of the Israelite community” Special role within ancient Israel Given directly by God (Exod 20:1, 18-19; Deut 4:12; 5:4, 21) Written by the “Fingers of God” (Exod 31:18; 32:16; 34:1, 28; Deut 4:13; 5:19; 9:10), accompanied by theophany Placed in the Ark of the Covenant (Deut 10:1-4)

11. Role of Decalogue in the Cult A basic formal affirmation in the religion of Israel Apply to all individual in Israel Conditions for membership Renewal of Obligation

12. Role of Decalogue Each of the 10 Commandments (except the last one) appears in a similar form elsewhere in the Pentateuch

13. Parallels to the Decalogue in other parts of the Pentateuch First 2 commandments: Exod 20:3-6 // Exod 34:14; Deut 5:9b; Exod 23:24; 34:17; Lev 19:4; 26:1; Mica 5:12 etc 3 rd (20:7)//Lev 19:12; 5:22 4 th (20:8-11)//the Covenant Code (23:12; 34:21;; Deut 5:13-14) and the Priestly Code (Exod 31:12-17; 35:1-3; 16:29-30; Lev 19:3; 23:3; 26:2; Num 15:32-35; Jer 17:21-27)

14. 5 th (20:12) //in the affirmative (Lev 19:4) as well as in the negative formulation: Exod 21:15; 21:17; Lev 20:9; Deut 27:16; 21:18-21 6 th (20:13) cf. Exod 21:12; Lev 24:17; Num 35:30-34; Deut 19:11-13 7 th (20:14) cf. Lev 18:20; 20:10; Deut 22:22; Num 5:11-30 8 th (20:15) cf. Lev 19:11; Exod 22:1-12 (casuistic laws) 9 th (20:16) // Exod 23:1; Deut 19:16-19 (casuistic) Parallels to the Decalogue Cont.

15. Other law collections that resemble the Decalogue Lev 19 Deut 27:15-26 Ezek 18 and 22 Psalms 15, 24 Isa 33:14-15

16. Discussion on the ethical authority of the Old Testament Luther The dispensationalists The theonomic approach More comprehensive approaches: Jubilee Centre Key for Christians: Jesus’ relationship to the law Wright’s concept

17. Wright’s Assumption of the Ethical Use of the OT The authority and relevance of the OT for Christians The unity of Scripture The priority of grace The mission and purpose of Israel The function of the law in relation to the mission of Israel Israel and its law as paradigmatic

18. Wright’s Method of appropriation of the OT laws for today Distinguish the general categories of the OT law Analyze the functions of particular laws and institutions Define the objective(s) of particular laws Preserve the objective but change the context

19. Case Study Lev 19:18-19 While moral relevancy of v.18 is clear, v.19 is puzzling, how do we appropriate that? Deut 12:1-7 How do we apply this law today?

20. Hazor Canaanite High Place

21. Arad Israelite Temple

22. Taanach Cult Stand