Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5375 law » 5378 law, OT
OT laws and legal traditions govern every aspect of the life of the covenant people of God.
Kinds of OT law
Criminal law
Exodus 21:12-14 Criminal law deals with crimes against persons punishable by a court.
Civil law
Deuteronomy 16:18-20 Civil law deals with the upholding in court of legally established rights against possible abuse. See also Deuteronomy 15:12-18
Social law
Exodus 22:21-22 Social law deals with behaviour or standards of behaviour which are not strictly enforceable in the courts. See also Deuteronomy 24:19-22
Cultic law
Cultic law deals explicitly with the ritual or religious life of the people of God. Leviticus chapters 1-7 are totally devoted to this kind of law:
Leviticus 1:10-13; Leviticus 4:13-21; Leviticus 7:11-18
Examples of OT law
Conditions for freeing servants
Exodus 21:2-6 pp Deuteronomy 15:12-18 See also Exodus 21:3-11; Leviticus 25:39-55
Dealing with injuries
Exodus 21:23-25 See also Matthew 5:38
Property is to be protected
Exodus 22:1 See also Leviticus 6:1-7; Luke 19:8
The rights of aliens must be respected
Exodus 22:21 See also Leviticus 19:33; Deuteronomy 10:19
Justice must be universally respected
Exodus 23:2-3 See also Leviticus 19:15
The Sabbath must be observed by all
Exodus 23:12 See also Exodus 20:8-11
Three annual festivals are to be celebrated
Exodus 23:15-16 See also Exodus 12:17; Deuteronomy 16:16
Worship must be in accordance with God's will and must be kept pure
Deuteronomy 12:1-7; Deuteronomy 13:6-8
Certain foods are declared to be unclean
Leviticus 11:1-23 pp Deuteronomy 14:3-20
A tenth of all produce must be given to God
Deuteronomy 14:22 See also Leviticus 27:30
Cultic laws are grounded in the holiness of God
Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:1-2 See also 1 Peter 1:16
Full details were given for each type of offering: burnt, grain, fellowship, sin and guilt offerings. Only perfect animals were to be offered:
Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 2:1-2; Leviticus 3:1-2; Leviticus 4:27-28; Leviticus 5:17-18
Rules governing infectious or contagious diseases
Leviticus 13:2; Leviticus 15:13
There must not be unlawful sexual relations
Leviticus 18:6
A Day of Atonement must be held
See also Leviticus 23:26-32 pp Leviticus 16:2-34 pp Numbers 29:7-11
See also
5475 property 6614 atonement 7340 clean and unclean 7402 offerings 7424 ritual law 7434 sacrifice 7446 slavery 8488 tithing 8622 worship
