A Deep Dive into Scripture
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will hear and do.” Then he took the blood and splashed it on the … Read more
They [Canaanites] must not live in your land. For if you serve their gods, this will become a snare to you. Exodus 23:33 Having introduced in the last post the idea of YHWH as “Divine Warrior” and holy war, it seems that here we need to discuss this topic that has drawn so much attention … Read more
See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared… You shall serve the LORD, your God; then he will bless your food and drink, and I will remove sickness from your midst; no woman in your land will be barren or miscarry; … Read more
Three times a year you shall celebrate a pilgrim feast to me. Exodus 23: 14 The Israelites, just like the Canaanites before them, were closely tied to the agricultural cycle of the year, and celebrated them in thanksgiving to YHWH, as the pagans to their fertility deities. Three of these feasts are mentioned here, and … Read more
These are the ordinances you shall lay before them. (Exodus 21:1) The law in its narrative context places the “Ten Commandments” as the core base of Israelite legislation. By nature, they are what scholars call “apodictic” law, that is, commands to be obeyed. We shy away from calling them “universal” for the very fact that God … Read more
… life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Exodus 21:23ff. Israel was birthed in the context of cultures that had, from deep antiquity, a rich tradition of law. As for the laws themselves, such as we have … Read more
Now these are the Ordinances which you shall set before them. When you buy a Hebrew slave … When a man sells his daughter … Ex. 21: 1, 2, 7 The first set of laws of the Book of the Covenant, after the introductory altar laws, have to do with slavery. Why this prominence? We … Read more
An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings … Ex. 20:24 We leave the people standing far off and follow Moses up the mountain through the thick darkness, into the presence of God, to hear His will for His people. What follows is a … Read more
Now as all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blast of the shofar and the mountain smoking, they became afraid and trembled. So they took up a position farther away and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we shall die.” … Read more
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Exodus 20:17 We are used to thinking of the 10 commandments in the category which scholars call “moral law.” By this is meant that they … Read more