Lesson 6 Notes

Reading the Law takes work

– Sometimes it’s just weird (Lev 11:20-23)

– Sometimes it’s tedious (Ex 26:7-9)

– Important to focus while reading

– Eliminate distractions

– Read aloud if you can

– Keep track of things (underline, highlight, write notes in the margin)

The books of the Law (Torah)

1. Genesis

2. Exodus

3. Leviticus

4. Numbers

5. Deuteronomy

Four categories of Law

1. Holiness

2. Sacrifice

3. Justice

4. Sacred time

Sinai and the giving of the Law

– God came down on the mountain and spoke audibly (Ex 19:16-21)

– The people agreed to obey and then “stood at a distance” while Moses went up and received the rest of the Law (Ex 20:18-21)

Tabernacle

– The 2nd half of Exodus contains meticulous instructions on how to build the tabernacle and everything that went outside and inside of it.

– The tabernacle is where God dwelled and where the people made animal sacrifices.

– Inside the tabernacle was a lampstand, table, bread, alter of incense, and ark of the covenant. Outside of the tent stood the bronze basin and the bronze altar for sacrifices.

Numbers

– Organization of the camp

– Tabernacle was in the center, surrounded by Levites

– the Levites set up, tore down, and transported the tabernacle (Num 18:21-24).

– Later on, David commissioned the Levites to sing and play instruments to praise God (1 Chron 16)

– A man named Korah instigated a rebellion that resulted in disastrous judgement with God showing that he wanted only the Levites to serve him through the tabernacle worship system.

Leviticus

– Priests maintained the inside of the tabernacle.

– They butchered animals and offered them on the altar.

– They managed cleansing ritual when someone became unclean for touching a dead person, touching the carcass of an unclean animal, nocturnal emissions, monthly menstruation, childbirth, bodily discharges, and skin diseases.

– Israel => Levites => Priests => High Priest

Types of sacrifices (Lev 17:11)

– Burnt offerings

– Grain offerings

– Peace (well-being) offerings

– Sin offerings

– Guilt offerings

– Holy day offerings

Covenantal structure of Deuteronomy

1. Preamble (Deut 1:1-5)

2. Historical review (Deut 1:6-4:49)

3. Individual laws/requirements (Deut 5-26)

4. Deposit of the text (Deut 31:9, 24-26)

5. List of witnesses (Deut 4:26; 30:19)

6. Blessings and curses (Deut 27-28)

7. Ratification ceremony (Deut 29)

8. Exhortation (Deut 29-30)

Deuteronomy

– Second telling of the law to the next generation

– Shows so much of God’s heart

– Apodictic laws: general commands (ex. 10 Commandments)

– Casuistic laws: specific scenarios (ex. Deut 22:6-7; 23:15-16)

Dealing with embarrassing or sexist laws

– God gave the Law to move the people of Israel forward.

– Comparisons to other ancient near eastern (ANE) law codes (like the Code of Hammurabi) show how the Torah curbed abuses and protected the vulnerable.

– On first reading, a law (ex. Deut 21:10-14) may seem bizarre or barbaric, but when you consider the historical setting and the options available in a patriarchal society, the wisdom of the Torah shines through brilliantly.

– Two books that can help you make sense of confusing laws include Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan and How (Not) to Read the Bible by Dan Kimball.

Why the Law matters to you

– The Torah teaches you who God is and what his preferences are.

– The new covenant includes many of the same prohibitions and commandments as the old covenant.

– The Law shows how highly God values holiness over syncretism.

– Understanding the Pentateuch is necessary for understanding the rest of the Bible.

– You can extract ethical principles from laws even when the particulars don’t line up.

Review:

– The Torah or Pentateuch includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuter