At least 5 different Hebrew words for law (of which "torah" is just one)
Law is given in context of narrative in the first five books
sub-topics --
ten commandments
book of the covenant (Ex. 20:22-23:19)
Leviticus and holiness code
Deuteronomy (Greek for "second law" -- really Moses' reflections on the law, and admonition to people to keep it when they enter the promised land)
law and covenant -- important relationship -- not anonymous rules, but given in relationship "They are given by the creator God who has chosen one nation out of all the nations to be his treasured possession (Ex. 19:5) and his laws are a gift to them that no other people enjoy and proof of God's nearness to them (Dt. 4:7-8)"
Important to remember -- law was given after Israel was rescued out of bondage, not before! Israel saved by divine mercy! Giving of law was part of God's ongoing grace. Obedience to law led to greater blessings
Ten commandments, not a ceiling but a floor
Monday, November 10, 2014
Notes on Covenant (New Bible Dictionary, IVP, 3rd Ed.)
Interesting...all of the terms associated with covenant in the OT are familiar to other Near Eastern treaties, except for "hesed" (covenant love).
Technical term is "karat berit" -- lit. "to cut a covenant" (since animal would be cut to mark the covenant)
Gen. 15, Ex. 24 both describe covenant ritual. Sacrifice of animal and covenant meal both clearly described in Ex. 24. Possible that Israelites gathered yearly to renew the covenant
In Near Eastern covenants, the relationship described as "father-son" when familiar, and "lord-servant" when more stern. Partners are called "brothers" if the relationship is between equal nations/partners
OT clearly familiar with Near Eastern treaties (both between equals and vassal treaties). Example of a vassal treaty in the OT -- Israelites and Gibeonites (Joshua 9-10)
"Not surprising" that the Lord used this form of relationship to give expression to his relationship with his people
Early covenants between God and Noah (Gen 6, 9)
Patriarchal covenant (Gen 15, 17) God and Abraham -- descendants, promised land. Author of Exodus is concerned with describing Sinaitic covenant, but still emphasizes importance of this earlier covenant. One did not replace the other. They co-existed.
Siniatic covenant (Ex. 24)
Davidic covenant further extension of Sinaitic -- king now mediator between God and his people
In some sense, the Davidic covenant supersedes the other -- which is now seen as fulfilled (multiplication of people, land entered) -- now promise of eternal reign of Davidic descendants (2 Sam 7) See also Ps. 2 and Ps. 110
Upsurge of interest in covenant in Jeremiah (600 BC) and intertestamental times
In NT, Jesus, the paschal lamb, becomes the covenant "animal" (the sacrificial one) -- in Jesus, the curse of the Siniatic covenant lifted, and the Davidic covenant fulfilled
We see covenant broken in Ex. 32-34 (golden calf) and renewed by Moses. We see that Jeremiah viewed covenant as so broken it needed to be replaced by a new one (Jer. 31:31)
Eichrodt -- sees covenant as the central idea of the OT
Davidic covenant, Messianic expectations -- forms important link between OT and NT
Technical term is "karat berit" -- lit. "to cut a covenant" (since animal would be cut to mark the covenant)
Gen. 15, Ex. 24 both describe covenant ritual. Sacrifice of animal and covenant meal both clearly described in Ex. 24. Possible that Israelites gathered yearly to renew the covenant
In Near Eastern covenants, the relationship described as "father-son" when familiar, and "lord-servant" when more stern. Partners are called "brothers" if the relationship is between equal nations/partners
OT clearly familiar with Near Eastern treaties (both between equals and vassal treaties). Example of a vassal treaty in the OT -- Israelites and Gibeonites (Joshua 9-10)
"Not surprising" that the Lord used this form of relationship to give expression to his relationship with his people
Early covenants between God and Noah (Gen 6, 9)
Patriarchal covenant (Gen 15, 17) God and Abraham -- descendants, promised land. Author of Exodus is concerned with describing Sinaitic covenant, but still emphasizes importance of this earlier covenant. One did not replace the other. They co-existed.
Siniatic covenant (Ex. 24)
Davidic covenant further extension of Sinaitic -- king now mediator between God and his people
In some sense, the Davidic covenant supersedes the other -- which is now seen as fulfilled (multiplication of people, land entered) -- now promise of eternal reign of Davidic descendants (2 Sam 7) See also Ps. 2 and Ps. 110
Upsurge of interest in covenant in Jeremiah (600 BC) and intertestamental times
In NT, Jesus, the paschal lamb, becomes the covenant "animal" (the sacrificial one) -- in Jesus, the curse of the Siniatic covenant lifted, and the Davidic covenant fulfilled
We see covenant broken in Ex. 32-34 (golden calf) and renewed by Moses. We see that Jeremiah viewed covenant as so broken it needed to be replaced by a new one (Jer. 31:31)
Eichrodt -- sees covenant as the central idea of the OT
Davidic covenant, Messianic expectations -- forms important link between OT and NT
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