The Book of the Covenant--Part II

The Book of the Covenant [Exodus 20:22-23:19] falls into eight sections. In this blog, we will make a few observations about the first three sections: Exodus 20:22-21:27.

Section I--Exodus 20:22-26--Instructions about devotion to Yahweh alone. This section contains two basic instructions.
1. God's people are not to make gods of silver or gold--verses 22-23. This is obviously a reinforcement and expansion of the "second commandment" in Exodus 20:4-6 God is in heaven. God is invisible. It is inappropriate to reduce the creator and sustainer of all the universe to a human-made image or idol.
2. God's people are to approach God on simple altar of earth, and sacrifice burn offerings and offerings of well being on it. One is not to chisel or carve the stones of the altar, and one is not to go up by steps to the altar so as to expose one's nakedness--verses 24-26.

Section II--Exodus 21:1-11--Instructions concerning male and female slaves. This section contains two fundamental instructions.
1. A male slave is to serve six years, then becomes free. If he marries during these six years, he becomes free but his wife and any children must remain with the master. But if the male slave chooses to stay with his wife and children and thus with the master, his master will pierce the slave's ear with an awl, and he will serve him for life--verses 1-6. This assumes that this type of master is caring, loving, understanding, and helpful.
2. The master must treat his female slave justly and lovingly. He is not to give her to another man, he is to treat her as his daughter, he must sustain all the possessions of the female slave. If the master does not treat her well, she shall go without debt, without payment of money--verses 7-11.

Section III--Exodus 21:12-27--Instructions concerning violence. Here there are two sets of instructions with four instructions each.
1. Capital Punishment--verses 12-17. According to God's law, four crimes call for capital punishment: (1) intentional murder; (2) striking parents; (3) kidnapping;
(4) cursing parents. Note the recurring phrase: ". . . shall be put to death." All of these instructions fit the "ten commandments": You shall not kill; Honor your father and mother; You shall not steal.
2. Violent assault against another person--verses 18-27. Here there are four situations.
a. If an individual hurts another person, the assailant must pay the victim for the loss of time and arrange for full recovery of the victim.
b. If a master hurts a male or female slave and the victim dies, the master is to be punished. If the slave survives, the master is not punished.
c. If two people are fighting and accidentally harm a pregnant woman nearby and the woman loses her baby but she survives, the one responsible for this action is to be fined what the woman's husband demands, paying what the judges decide. If the woman is harmed in any way, the responsible person is to give her eye for eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound, etc. The technical term for this is "lex or jus talionis," or retribution.
d. If a master strikes the eye or tooth of a slave, the master must set the slave free.

All these "laws" or "instructions" have to do with PEOPLE. They have to do with our relationship to God or to others. These "detailed" laws are elaborations on the "ten commandments," which ultimately refer to the two GREAT COMMANDMENTS: Love God with all your heart, AND Love your neighbor as yourself.

How do these instructions strike YOU? Are they relevant or not? Share your thoughts with others. Let me hear from you.

John Willis