OTHER LAWS. While the ten commandments constituted the basis of the covenant between God and Israel, many other laws were given looking to their enforcement. When the people heard the voice of the Lord they were greatly frightened and requested Moses to hear the law and speak to them (Ex., 20:18-21; Deut., 5:22, 33). The following evidences are furnished that Moses left a record of the law and his other works: (a) The Lord told him to write these words, meaning the law (Ex., 34:27); (b) it is said that Moses wrote all the words of the Lord (Ex., 24:4); (c) Moses told the people to write the law upon the posts of their houses, their gates, and upon plastered stones (Deut., 6:4-9; 11:18-20; 27:1-8); (d) it is said that Moses wrote the goings of the children of Israel (Num., 33:2); (e) it is said that Moses wrote the law and delivered it to the priests (Deut., 31:9-13, 24-27); (f) it is said that Moses wrote a song (Deut., 31:22; 32:1-43). Moses learned the will of God as no other mortal man ever learned it--God spoke to him face to face (Num., 12:6-8). He spent eighty days and nights in Mt. Sinai with the Lord (Ex., 24:12-18; 31:18; 34:1-28). [36] These laws covered the whole range of human activity:

      (1). Duties to God. They were to love him with all their soul, mind and strength (Deut., 6:5). The reasons assigned for this commandment were, (a) because He had chosen them above all people (Deut., 10:15; 11:1); (b) because He had done great and terrible things for them which they had seen (Deut., 10:21; 11:1). (c) because He had made a great multitude of them (Deut., 10:22; 11:1). They were required to honor His name (Deut., 20:7), add nothing to His law and take nothing from it (Deut., 4:2; 12:32), keep His statutes and judgments (Deut., 12:1), and give Him the first and best of everything (Ex., 13:2; 22:29, 30; Deut., 26:1-11).

      (2). Personal duties. Every man was required, (a) to be honest, (b) and tell the truth (Ex., 23:1; Lev., 19:11).

      (3). Duties of parents to their children. Parents were required, (a) to circumcise their sons when they were eight days old (Lev., 12:1-3); (b) to impress upon them the great importance of the great events of the nation's history (Ex., 13:14-16); (c) to teach them the law (Deut., 6:1-6); (d) to give them possession of the inheritance (Num., 36:1-13); (e) to give the first-born a double portion of the estate (Deut., 21:15-17); (f) to deliver the stubborn and rebellious son for chastisement (Deut., 21:18-21).

      (4). Duties of children to their parents. Children were required, (a) to honor their parents (Ex., 20:12); (b) to fear them (Lev., 19:3); (c) and to refrain from cursing or smiting them (Ex., 21:15, 17).

      (5). Duties of husbands and wives to each other. (a) Husbands were to cheer their wives, to give them a divorce if they [37] did not love them and to confirm or disannul their vows (Num., 30:6-15; Deut., 24:1-5); (b) wives were required to submit to their husbands (Num., 30:6-15).

      (6). Duties of people to their rulers. The people were required to honor their rulers (Ex., 22:28), and to submit to their decisions (Deut., 17:8-13).

      (7). Duties of rulers to the people. Rulers were required to measure out justice to men without regard to their financial standing (Ex., 23:3, 6; Deut., 16:18-20).

      (8). General Duties. Masters were required to treat their servants with kindness (Ex., 21:18-27; Lev., 25:47-54). The Hebrews were required to be generous to the poor and helpless (Deut., 15:7-11), to love strangers (Ex., 22:21-23; Lev., 19:33; 25:35; Deut., 10:19), to love their neighbors as themselves (Lev., 19:18), and to be honest in their dealings (Lev., 19:35, 36).

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