This Is Appendix 15 From The Companion Bible. The existance of Laws in the book of Genesis and
Exodus is evident, though there is no formal record of their delivery.
Compare. Exodus 18:16.
Doubtless some were made known to mankind, as such,
by God, for example, (1) the Law of the Sabbath (Genesis 2: But, side by side with these special Divine
communications, the Babylonian laws were codified in the age of Abraham.
In A.D. 1901, the Code of Amraphel (Khammurabi),
Genesis 14: Eight hundred years before Moses, these laws governed
the peoples from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea, and from Persia to
the Mediterranean, and were in force throughout Canaan.
This discovery overthrew the two main pillars of the
"higher critics", one of which was that such writing was
unknown before Moses; the other, that a legal code was impossible before
the Jewish kings.
Hence, we have now before us both codes; and are in a
position to answer Jehovah's question in Deuteronomy. 4: Khammurabi calls his laws the "judgments of
righteousness", but some of them, at least, are both unrighteous
and unequal, as the following brief contrast shows at a glance:-
We see the laws of Khammurabi operating in Genesis in the following instances:
The following is a list of thirty-four laws seen in force in Genesis, given by Jehovah, and subsequently confirmed in the Mosaic code:- The law of the sabbath (Genesis 2: 3). Exodus 16:23; 20:10; 31:13-17. Deuteronomy 5:14.The law of the place to worship (Genesis 3: 24; 4:3, 4, 16; 9:26, 27). Exodus 25:8. Deuteronomy 12:5-7. Leviticus 17:3, 4.The law of the acceptance of sacrifice by fire from heaven (Genesis 4: 4, 5). Compare. strange fire, Exodus 30:9. Leviticus 6:9; 10:1.The law of sacrifices (Genesis 4: 4; 15:9; 22:2, 3, 13). Exodus 29:36. Leviticus 1:2-5.The law of clean and unclean (Genesis 7: 2; 8:20). Leviticus 11. Deuteronomy. 14:3-20.The law of the altar (Genesis 8: 20; 12:7, 8; 13:4, 18; 22:9; 26:25). Exodus 20:24.The law of eating flesh (Genesis 9: 3). Deuteronomy 12:20.The law against eating blood (Genesis 9: 4). Leviticus 7:2; 17:10-14.The law against murder (Genesis 9: 5, 6). Exodus 20:13. Deuteronomy 5:17.The law of parental authority (Genesis 9: 25; 18:19; 22; 37:13). Exodus 20:12. Leviticus 19:3. Deuteronomy 5:16.The law of monogamy (Genesis 12: 18; 16:1). Deuteronomy 24:1, 2.The law against adultery (Genesis 12: 18; 20:3, 9; 26:10, 11; 38; 39:9; 49:4). Leviticus 20:10.The law as to (1) priesthood (Genesis 14: 18). Exodus 28:1. (2) priestly garments (Genesis 27:15; 37:3). Exodus 28:4.The law of the tithes (Genesis 14: 20; 28:22). Leviticus 27:30-32.The law as to covenant-making (Genesis 15: 10, 18; 21:27, 32). Exodus 34:27; 19:5.The law of intercession (Genesis 17; 18; 20: 17; 24).The law of righteousness (Genesis 17: 1). Deuteronomy 18:13.The law of circumcision (Genesis 17: 9, 10). Leviticus 12:3.The law of hospitality (Genesis 18). Leviticus 19: 33, 34. Deuteronomy 10:18, 19.The law against licentiousness (Genesis 18: 20). Leviticus 18.The law against fornication (Genesis 34: 7).The law as to oaths (Genesis 21: 23; 24:41; 26:28). Exodus 22:11. Numbers 5:19.The law of binding sacrifices (Genesis 22: 9). Psalm 118:27.The law of the birthright (Genesis 25: 33). Deuteronomy 21:16, 17.The law of anointing with oil (Genesis 28: 18; 31:13). Exodus 40:15.The obligation of vows (Genesis 28: 20-22; 31:13). Deuteronomy 23:21. Numbers 30:2.The law against idolatry (implied in the word "dominion", Genesis 1: 26; 31:35). Exodus 20:3-6. Deuteronomy 5:7-10.The law of uncleanness (Genesis 31: 35). Leviticus 15.The law against marriage between circumcised and uncircumcised (Genesis 34: 14). Deuteronomy 7:3.The law of ceremonial cleansing for worship (Genesis 35: 2). Exodus 19:10.The law of drink offerings (Genesis 35: 14). Exodus 29:40. Leviticus 23:18.The law of marring the brother's widow (Genesis 38: 8). Deuteronomy 25:5-10.The law of preaching ( 2Peter 2:5). Leviticus 10:11. Deuteronomy 33:10.The law of dowry (Genesis 34: 12). Exodus 22:16. |