A. Patriarchal. The family being the unit of life, the father as head of the family was the authoritative Ruler: Judg. 11:29-40; Job 1:5

B. Theocracy. God was the direct ruler of His people: Ex. 19:3-8

C. Government by judges. The people forgot God. God chastised them by selling them into slavery to their enemies. Upon repentance God raised up military chieftains as deliverers: Judg. 2:13-18

D. Monarchy. This was begun by the coronation of Saul, reached its height in David and Solomon, and ended with the Babylonian captivity: I Sam. 10:24

A. Israelites. Those of Israel who ratified the covenant of Sinai, and later their children, were entitled to the rights of citizenship: Ex. 19:5-8; Deut. 6:1-9

B. Moabites and Ammonites excluded: Deut. 23:3

C. Edomites and Egyptians in the third generation were eligible: Deut. 23:7, 8

A. Pertaining to citizenship

1. Law applied equally to strangers as to natives: Lev. 24:22; Num. 15:22-30

2. Jew not to marry a stranger: Gen. 34:14

3. Strangers could own slaves: Lev. 25:47-55

B. Pertaining to slavery

1. Slaves obtained

a. Captured in war: Num. 31:7-11

b. Inherited: Lev. 25:45-46

c. Bought: Ex. 21:2

d. Sold for debt or theft: Ex. 22:3; Deut. 15:12

2. How to treat slaves

a. Israelites could be redeemed from slavery: Lev. 25:47-55

b. Jewish slaves to be set free in Year of Jubilee: Lev. 25:39-41

c. Regarded as part of owner's household and possession: Gen. 12:16; Ex. 20:17

d. Could be struck by master: Ex. 21:20, 21

e. Fugitive not to be returned: Deut. 23:15, 16; I Sam. 30:15

f. Freed if ill-treated: Ex. 21:26, 27

g. To enjoy the Sabbath: Ex. 20:10

C. Pertaining to taxation

1. Census taken: Luke 2:1-3

2. Purpose of taxes

a. Valuation of persons: Lev. 27:1-13

b. Temple service: Ex. 30:11-16; II Chr. 24:6, 9

c. Taxes: Matt. 22:15-21; Rom. 13:6, 7

3. Amount of taxes: I Sam. 8:10-18

4. Priests and attendants exempt: Ezra 7:24

D. Military laws

1. Age of soldiers: Num. 1:2, 3, 26:2

2. Selective draft: Num. 31:3-7

3. Exemption from service

a. Levites: Num. 1:49

b. Certain individuals: Deut. 20:5-7

c. Fainthearted: Deut. 20:8

4. Cleanliness in camp: Num. 31:19, 20; Deut. 23:9-14

5. Regulations in battle

a. Notice to be given: Deut. 20:10, 11

b. Fruit trees spared: Deut. 20:19, 20

c. Treatment of captives: Num. 21:2, 3, 35, 31:17, 18; Deut. 20:14-18; Josh. 11:14

d. Plunder: Deut. 20:14

e. Indemnity: II Kings 3:4

A. Crimes against the public

1. Bribery: Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:19; Prov. 17:23

2. Contempt for the law: Num. 15:30; Deut. 6:16, 17

Penalty: Deut. 17:12, 13

3. Perjury: Ex. 20:16; Lev. 19:12

Penalty: Deut. 19:16-20

4. Perverting or obstructing justice: Ex. 23:1, 2, 6; Lev. 19:15; Ps. 82:2

Penalty: Deut. 16:19, 20

5. Conspiracy: II Sam. 15:10-12

B. Crimes of immoral acts

1. Adultery: Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18

Penalty: Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22-25

2. Rape: Deut. 22:25, 26

Penalty: Deut. 22:25-29

3. Prostitution: Deut. 23:17

Penalty: Lev 19:29, 21:9

4. Seduction: Ex. 22:16, 17

Penalty: Deut. 22:28, 29

5. Incest: Lev. 18:6-18; Deut. 22:30

Penalty: Lev. 20:11-21

6. Sodomy: Lev. 18:22, 23; Deut. 23:17

Penalty: Ex. 22:19; Lev 20:13, 15, 16

C. Crimes against persons

1. Murder: Ex. 20:13

Penalty: Gen. 9:6; Ex. 21:12

2. Manslaughter: Ex. 21:12-14; Josh. 20:3-6

Penalty: Num. 35:11, 22-28

3. Assault: Ex. 21:18-26

Penalty: Ex. 21:19-27; Lev. 24:19, 20

4. Kidnapping: Ex. 21:16; Deut. 24:7

5. Slander: Lev. 19:16

D. Crimes against property

1. Stealing: Ex. 20:15, 22:1-12; Deut. 23:24, 25

2. Arson: Ex. 22:6

3. Moving a landmark: Deut. 19:14

A. Marriage

1. Ordained by God: Gen. 1:27, 28, 2:18, 24

2. Within the tribe: Num. 36:6

3. Polygamy forbidden: 1 Cor. 7:2; I Tim. 3:2 (sic.)

4. Marriage forbidden with:

a. Stepmother: Lev. 18:8, 20:11

b. Aliens: Ex. 34:13-17; Deut. 7:1-3

c. Sister: Lev. 20:17

d. Aunt: Lev. 20:19

e. Grandchild: Lev. 18:10

f. Daughter-in-law: Lev 18:15

5. Divorce: Lev. 21:7, 22:13; Is. 50:1; I Cor. 7:10, 11

a. Not to remarry woman divorced by another man: Deut. 24:1-4

b. For committing adultery: Jer 3:8

B. Parent and child

1. Father has authority over child: Num. 30:3-5

2. Father to arrange marriage: Gen. 24:2-4

3. Parents to educate: Deut. 21:18-21; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4

4. Parents to discipline: Deut. 21:18-21; Prov. 22:15

5. Children to honor parents: Ex. 20:12, 21:15

6. Children to be regarded as gift of God: Gen. 33:5, 48:9; Josh. 24:3

7. Penalty for children who dishonor parents: Lev 20:9; Deut. 21:18-21

A. Inheritance

1. Sons inherit father's estate: Gen. 21:10-13; I Chr. 5:1

2. Double portion to firstborn: Deut. 21:15-17

3. Wife not heir, but descends with property to next of kin: Ruth 4:1-12

4. Daughters heirs when no sons: Num. 27:8, 9

5. When no sons or daughters, inheritance to nearest relative Num. 27:9-11

B. Real property titles

1. Real estate

a. Land divided among tribes: Num. 26:52-56; Josh. 14:5

b. Not transferable: Num. 36:6-9

c. Not permanently sold: Lev. 25:23-28

d. Value of land according to years after Jubilee: Lev. 25:15, 16

e. Release of land: Lev. 25:8-34

f. Mode of transfer

(1) Deed made: Jer. 32:9-14

(2) Taking off sandal: Ruth 4:3-11

(3) Deed delivered in presence of witnesses: Jer. 32:10, 12

(4) Deed recorded: Jer. 32:14

2. Personal property (All property which is moveable, as against real property such as houses and lands)

a. Sale recognized: Lev. 25:14

b. Pledges of:

(1) Children given as: II Kings 4:1-7

(2) Upper and lower millstone prohibited: Deut. 24:6

(3) Not retained over night: Ex. 22:26, 27; Deut. 24:13

(4) Voluntary: Deut. 24:10, 11

A. Widows and orphans: Ex. 22:22, 23; Deut. 14:28, 29; Acts 6:1-4; I Tim. 5:3-16

1. Widow to marry nearest relative: Deut. 25:5-10

2. Widow and orphans not to be oppressed: Zech. 7:9-12; Mal. 3:5

B. Neighbors: Lev. 19:13

C. The poor: Ex. 22:25-27; Lev. 19:9, 10; Deut. 15:7-11; Luke 3:11, 14:13, 14

D. Strangers or aliens: Lev. 19:33, 34; Deut. 24:19-22; Zech. 7:9-12

E. Poor and needy: Deut. 24:14-15

F. Servants: Deut. 24:14-15

G. Handicapped

1. Blind: Lev. 19:14; Deut. 27:18; Luke 14:13, 14

2. Deaf: Lev. 19:14

3. Lame: Luke 14:12-14

A. Debts: Ex. 22:25; Deut. 15:1-3; Neh. 5:10, 11

B. With neighbors: Deut. 15:1-3

C. With foreigners: Deut. 15:1-3

D. Interest: Ex. 22:25; Lev. 25:35-37; Deut. 23:19, 20; Ezek. 18:10-13

E. Loans: Ex. 22:25; Deut. 23:19, 20; II Kings 4:1-7; Neh. 5:2-5

F. Mortgages: Neh. 5:2-5

G. Pledges: (See VI. B. 2)

H. Sales: Lev. 25:14

I. Sales of Land: Lev. 25:23-28; Ruth 4:3-11; Jer. 32:9-14

J. Of servitude: Ex. 21:2-4; Deut. 15:12

K. Sureties: Prov. 6:1, 2, 17:18

A. Clean and unclean meat: Lev. 11:2-31; Deut. 14:3-21

B. Forbidden foods

1. Fat and blood: Lev. 17:10-14

2. Flesh torn by beasts: Ex. 22:31

3. Fruit of young trees: Lev. 19:23-25

C. Sacred obligations

1. Firstborn: Ex. 34:19, 20

2. Firstfruits: Ex. 34:26; Deut. 18:4

3. Tithes: Gen. 14:19, 20; Lev. 27:30-33; II Chr. 31:4-12; Mal. 3:8-11; Matt. 23:23

4. Atonement money: Ex. 30:12-16

5. Freewill offering: Lev. 22:17-20; Num. 15:1-4

D. Sacred calendar

1. Sabbath: Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 16:23; Lev. 23:3; Num. 28:9, 10; Deut. 5:12-15; Neh. 10:31; Ezek. 46:3

a. Punishment for not keeping: Num. 15:32-36

b. Made for man: Mark 2:23-28

c. Healing on the Sabbath: Luke 13:14-17, 14:3-5; John 5:8-16

2. Passover: Ex. 12:1-14; Deut. 16:1-8; Ezek. 45:21, 24; Luke 22:7-18

3. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Ex. 34:18

4. Feast of Weeks: Deut. 16:9-11

5. Feast of Tabernacles: Lev. 23:33-44; Num. 29:12-40; Deut. 16:13-17

6. Sabbatical (seventh) Year: Ex. 21:2-6, 23:10, 11; Lev. 25:1-7; Deut. 15:1-14; II Chr. 36:21; Neh. 10:31

7. Day of Atonement: Lev. 23:26-32

E. Crimes against God

1. Worship of false gods: Ex. 20:1-5

Penalty: Ex. 22:20

2. Spiritualism: Lev. 20:27

Penalty: Ex. 22:18

3. Blasphemy: Lev. 24:16; Deut. 5:11

Penalty: Lev 24:16

A. Judges appointed: Ex. 18:13-26; II Chr. 19:4-11

1. Moses, first judge: Ex. 18:13-27

2. Priests judge in small matters: Ex. 18:22

3. King as judge: I Kings 7:1-7

B. Submission of cases

1. Ordinary cases submitted to judges: Deut. 25:1, 2

2. Exceptional cases taken to Levitical priest for verdict: Deut. 17:8-11

3. Extreme cases submitted to the LORD for decision: Num. 5:11-31; Deut. 21:1-9

4. Judges must not pervert justice: Ex. 23:6-8

5. Bribery forbidden: Deut. 16:18-20

C. Where courts were held

1. At gate of city: Deut. 21:19

2. In Hall of judgment: I Kings 7:7

D. Judgments

1. Regarded as from God: Deut. 1:17

2. Righteous to be justified and wicked condemned: Deut. 25:1

3. Sentence to be executed Deut. 25:2, 3

E. Appeals

1. To Moses: Ex. 18:26

2. To priests: Deut. 17:8-11

3. To the king: I Kings 3:16-27

F. Damages

1. For disfiguring a person: Lev. 24:19, 20

2. For stealing: Ex. 22:4, 5

3. Kindling a fire which destroys property: Ex. 22:6

4. Breach of trust: Lev. 6:1-5

5. Killing an animal: Ex. 21:35, 36; Lev. 24:18, 21

6. Loss of animal falling into pit: Ex. 21:33, 34

7. Loss of borrowed property: Ex. 22:14

G. Methods of punishment

1. Infliction in kind: Gen. 9:6; Lev 24:19, 20

2. Burning: Lev. 20:14

3. Mutilation: Deut 25:11,12

4. Hanging: Deut. 21:22, 23

5. Stoning: Lev. 24:16

6. Beating: Deut. 25:2, 3

7. Excommunication: Ezra 10:8

8. Imprisonment: Ezra 7:26

9. Compensation for damages: Ex. 21:19, 32, 36

10. Restitution for stolen or borrowed property: Ex. 22:12, 14, 15

H. Method of protection

1. Cities of refuge appointed: Num. 35:6-15

2. Protection till trial could be held: Num. 35:12

3. Murderer unprotected Num. 35:30, 31

4. Unintentional manslayer remained in city of refuge till death of high priest: Josh. 20:1-6

A. Assault: Ex. 21:18, 19

B. Compensation: Ex. 21:18, 19, 32

C. Damage by animals: Ex. 21:32

D. Damage by fire: Ex. 22:6

E. Injury to animals: Ex. 21:33-36; Lev. 24:18, 21

F. Loss of borrowed property: Ex. 22:14, 15

G. Personal injury: Lev. 24:19, 20

H. Rights of strangers: Lev. 24:22

A. Cleansing the woman after childbirth: Lev. 12:1-8

B. Test for leprosy: Lev. 13:1-59

C. Cleansing of the leper's house: Lev. 14:33-57

D. Cleansing of males with discharge: Lev. 15:1-15

E. Laws concerning the woman during menstruation: Lev. 15:24-33

A. Beasts of burden: Ex. 23:12; Deut. 25:4

B. Beasts of the field: Ex. 23:11

C. Mother and young: Lev. 22:28; Deut. 22:6, 7

D. Enemy's animals: Ex. 23:4, 5; Deut. 22:4

Interest on money was called usury in biblical times. (Now usury means excessive interest.)

A. Taking of interest forbidden among Jews: Ex. 22:25; Deut. 23:19, 20

The money was borrowed for relief of distress.

B. Allowed to be taken from foreigners: Deut. 23:20

Money was borrowed by foreigner to develop trade.

C. Property returned without interest: Neh. 5:11-13

D. Differing weights and measures forbidden: Deut. 25:13-16