An Introduction to Biblical Law

by William S. Morrow

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2017

Overview

In this book William Morrow surveys four major law collections in Exodus–Deuteronomy and shows how they each enabled the people of Israel to create and sustain a community of faith.

Treating biblical law as dynamic systems of thought facilitating ancient Israel’s efforts at self-definition, Morrow describes four different social contexts that gave rise to biblical law: Israel at the holy mountain (the Ten Commandments); Israel in the village assembly (Exodus 20:22–23:19); Israel in the courts of the Lord (priestly and holiness rules in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers); and Israel in the city (Deuteronomy).

Key Features

• Features informed, accessible textbook on law collections in the Pentateuch
• Includes discussion of controversial subjects such as slavery, revenge, gender inequality, religious intolerance, and contradictions between bodies of biblical law
• Helps students and other serious readers make sense out of texts in the Pentateuch that are often seen as obscure

Contents

• Thinking about Biblical Law
  • Introduction: Water from Sinai
  • The Laws in Scripture: Dates and Origins
  • Biblical Law: Mosaic or a Mosaic?
  • Approaches to the Law: Text and Context
• Israel at the Holy Mountain
  • The Ten Commandments: Introduction
  • The Second Commandment: Revealing the Nature of God
  • Further Reading: The Decalogue
• Israel in the Village Assembly
  • The Covenant Code: Introduction
  • Restoration or Revenge? The Case of the Goring Ox
  • The Bible and Slavery: Humanitarian Concerns
  • Further Reading: The Covenant Code
• Israel in the Courts of the Lord
  • Priestly and Holiness Law: Introduction
  • The Tabernacle: A Palace in the Wilderness
  • Sacrifice: Communication and Community-Making
  • Gift Offerings: Commitment and Belonging
  • Hazards of the Holy Life 1: Debt Offerings
  • Hazards of the Holy Life 2: Food, Death, Sex, and Birth
  • The Holiness Code: Crops, Tattoos, and Loving Your Neighbor
  • Jubilee: Utopia or Practicality?
  • Further Reading: Priestly and Holiness Writings
• Israel in the City
  • Deuteronomy: Introduction
  • Covenant Theology and Religious Intolerance: Israel and the Canaanites
  • Revolution: Centralization of the Cult
  • Justice at the Gates: Capital Crimes and Judicial Reform
  • The Limits of Social Solidarity: Women in Deuteronomic Law
  • Further Reading: Deuteronomy

Top Highlights

“What are the benefits of the whole burnt offering? According to Lev 1:3 it is ‘acceptance’ (rāṣōn). The motif of acceptance connotes the idea that Yhwh recognizes the offerer as a loyal member of the community, one of his people.” (Page 141)

“According to Martin Buber, at the heart of biblical religion is a response to an event—not a reasoned philosophical principle.” (Page 53)

“an experience of divine grace confers an identity on those who receive it, and this identity is often articulated by law” (Page 47)

“Most likely, Leviticus 25 provided an important expression of two significant theological ideas that Israel needed to commit to as it anticipated a rather uncertain future. The first is connected to the belief that the true owner of the land is Yhwh. The second is the importance of the Sabbath as an institution for hallowing time.” (Page 188)

“According to rabbinic tradition, the Jubilee was never practiced during Second Temple times.¹³ Nor is there evidence that a national Jubilee was observed in the preexilic period.¹⁴ These facts raise questions about when the Jubilee laws of Leviticus 25 were composed.” (Page 185)

Praise for the Print Edition

It is hard to imagine a clearer or more accessible introduction to biblical law. This is the product of a mature voice that offers a significant bridge between careful scholarship and theologically engaged readers. An impressive achievement.

—Bernard M. Levinson, University of Minnesota

William Morrow’s Introduction to Biblical Law is the book that we have needed in this field. It summarizes the major law collections, covers the key interpretive methods used, and discusses contemporary applications. It is significant that this resource incorporates theological considerations, including New Testament parallels. Such content, along with the clear writing and lack of arcane language, means that Morrow’s book can be used in congregational settings as well as academic ones. I am certainly looking forward to using it in my classes.

—Cheryl B. Anderson, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Morrow is an outstanding biblical scholar and ideally suited to write this book. It’s accessible and insightful, and it doesn’t shy away from difficult scholarly or interpretive issues. While many people prefer the stories of the Pentateuch, Morrow demonstrates how fascinating and compelling the ‘water from Sinai’ (read the intro!) can be.

—Bruce Wells, Saint Joseph’s University

Product Details

• Title: An Introduction to Biblical Law
• Author: William S. Morrow
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Print Publication Date: 2017
• Logos Release Date: 2019
• Pages: 286
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Jewish law; Bible. O.T. › Criticism, interpretation, etc
• ISBNs: 9780802868657, 0802868657
• Resource ID: LLS:NNTRDCTNBBLCLLW
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:52:29Z

About William S. Morrow

Associate Professor, Queen’s Theological College, Queen’s University.

Sample Pages from An Introduction to Biblical Law