PECULIARITIES OF THE LAW OF MOSES.

      (1). Its national aspects. The law of Moses was given to, and for, a single nation (Ex., 19:1-25; 20:1-17; Deut., 5:1-33; Mal., 4:4). It developed a national worship. Previous to it, worship was confined to the family (Gen., 12:6, 7; 46:1-3). Under it God recorded His name at the altar (Ex., 20:24-26), and required all Israel to assemble there and worship through the Divinely ordained priesthood (Num., 18:1-7; Deut., 12:12-16). The law of Moses was given orally (Ex., 20:1-23), and perpetuated, (a) by being written on tables of stone (Ex., 24:12; 31:18), (b) by being written in a book (Ex., 24:4, 7, 8; Deut., 31:24-26; Heb., 9:18, 19), (c) and it was made a part of the national life by being taught to each new generation, talked of in their homes, bound upon their hands, written upon the posts of their houses, on their gates (Deut., 6:1-9), written on pillars (Deut., 27:1-8) and publicly proclaimed in the ears of the nation (Deut., 11:26-32; 31:9-13).

      (2). Its simplicity. The law of Moses was given to a nation that had been out of bondage only a short time, and was adapted to their necessities just as it found them. God intended that they should understand and obey it, for, (a) the masses were ignorant, and disposed to forsake Him (Ex., 20:1-5; Deut., 27:1-8); (b) through it they received the knowledge of sin (Ex., 20:1-7; Num., 25:1-15; Rom., 3:19-21); (c) it was their bond of union (Deut., 7:12-16); (d) it carried with it a blessing and a curse (Deut., 11:26-32); (e) it foreshadowed the gospel of Christ (Col., 2:17; Heb., 10:1). [86]

      (3). Greatness of its blessings. The blessings of the law were, (a) perpetual possession of the land promised to their fathers (Deut., 7:1-13; 30:16), (b) long life and good days (Deut., 30:20), (c) the good things of this world (Deut., 28:1-14), (d) protection from their enemies (Deut., 20:10-18; 23:14), (e) superiority to all other nations (Deut., 15:5, 6; 26:19; 28:12, 13).

      (4). Greatness of its curses. The curses of the law were numerous and terrible (Deut., 27:11-26; 28:15-68). In addition to this, many crimes were punishable with death or expulsion from the congregation of Israel: (a) Murder (Ex., 21:12-14; Num., 35:30), unlawfully smiting a servant (Ex., 21:20, 21), death by vicious animals uncontrolled (Ex., 21:28-30), robbery in the night (Ex., 22:2-4), idolatry (Ex., 22:20; Lev., 20:1-5), witchcraft (Ex., 22:18; Lev., 20:27), afflicting the widow or fatherless (Ex., 22:22-24), disobedience to priests or judges (Ex., 22:28; Deut., 17:12), the neglect of a priest to wash in the laver before entering the tabernacle (Ex., 30:18-21), Sabbath-breaking (Ex., 31:15, 16; Num., 15:32-36), adultery (Lev., 20:10), incest (Lev., 20:11, 12), sodomy (Lev., 20:13), bestiality (Lev., 20:15, 16), disrespect to parents (Lev., 20:9), blasphemy (Lev., 24:16), unlawfully approaching the tabernacle (Num., 1:51), false prophecy (Deut., 13:1-5), enticers to idolatry (Deut., 13:6-11), gluttony and drunkenness (Deut., 21:18-21), rape of a married or betrothed woman (Deut., 22:13-27), kidnapping (Deut., 24:7), (b) eating leavened bread at the feast [87] of unleavened bread (Ex., 12:15-17), making or using the sacred oil for anointing (Ex., 30:23-33), making or using the holy perfume (Ex., 30:34-38), eating the sacrifices of peace-offerings, being unclean (Lev., 7:20), eating blood (Lev., 17:10-14), uncovering the nakedness of near kin (Lev., 18:6-18, 29), eating the sacrifices of peace-offerings on the third day (Lev., 19:5-8), uncovering the nakedness of a woman with her sickness upon her (Lev., 20:18), refusing to be afflicted and doing work on the day of atonement (Lev., 23:27-30), neglecting to keep the passover (Num., 9:13).

      (5). Important fact. Abraham (Gen., 12:1-3), Isaac (Gen., 26:1-5), Jacob (Gen., 28:10-14) and the nation of Israel were elected in order to the unfolding of the purpose of God (Ex., 19:1-8). The law, however, made provisions for aliens (Ex., 20:10; Lev., 19:33, 34). It provided a home for the Edomites (Deut., 2:1-5), and made provision for the entrance of the Edomites and the Egyptians into the congregation of the Lord in their third generation (Deut., 23:7, 8).

[CBC 86-88]