Exodus 12 1-2, 13 3-16, 32 9-14. Numbers 114-35, 13-14, 16, 201-13, 14-21 21 21-32, 222-24 25 25 1-5. Deuteronomy 275-7a, 31 14-15, 23 21 1-3, 9 33, 34 la, lb-5a, 6, 10. 1-7, 20, 22-23, 31-32, 19 11 10-26, 27, 31-32 4a 9 1-17, 28-29 16 la, 3, 15-16 17, 26 34-35 27 46 to 28 9 29 24, 29 18b 31 33 18a 34 1-2a, Leviticus, Ch. 1-16 (Ch. 17-26), Ch. 27. 1-17a, 21, 25-26a, 32a Deuteronomy 13, 32 48-52, 34 la, 5b, 7a, 8-9, 6-18 1-2, 5-7, 10, 26-30, 25 Ch. 26-31, "D" Deuteronomy 11-2, 1-3 13, 3 14-17, 318-4 28, 429-31, 32-40, 41-43, 51-26 19, 271-4, 7-8, 9-10, 11-13, (14-26) 44-49 31 1-13, (16-22), 24-27, 28-30 Ch. 28, 29 1-6, 10-29 (32 143), 44, 45-47 34 11-12, Hereafter in this volume the Book of the Covenant will be cited as C. The oldest written Jewish law is probably that found in Exodus 34 1, 4, 27, 28 It was a covenant between Jehovah and Israel. In Exodus 34 18-28 we find the original form of the Ten Words which later became the familiar Decalogue. These became the core and essence of the Torah. In addition there were scattering regulations and decisions applicable to the primitive conditions of the times. At last these were gathered together into a code, the earliest compiled body of the Jewish law, about the year 800 B. C. This is called the Book of the Covenant, which is found in Exodus 2022 to 23 33. It immediately follows the Decalogue in the later edition named Exodus, and was so called because thus designated in Exodus 24'. The Book of the Covenant originally consisted of oral decisions and regulations, which were later written down, and became legal precedents and served as a handbook for judges. It presumes a primitive state of society in which agriculture was the principal occupation. The principles of justice in civil and criminal cases were quite simple, and religious conceptions were crude and undeveloped. Even here, however, we note some refinements in legal classification, and in the various classes of crimes. The distinction between different degrees of murder, Exodus 21 13-14, is identical in principle with that of modern codes. A few citations will illustrate the fact that the more common crimes were well recognized and provisions made for their punishment, while the more subtle refinements and distinctions of modern times were unknown. Practically all of civil and criminal law was embodied under two headings-retaliation, and pecuniary compensation. The Book of the Covenant contains no elements of commercial law. 2 The Book of the Law, or The Deuteronomic Code Deuteronomy 5-11, 12-26 and other parts of Deuteronomy Date 621 B. C. (Cited as D) Jewish worship throughout its whole history was based upon sacrifice. Jehovah's favor must be courted and his wrath appeased by the sacrifice of something of great value to the worshiper, the firstlings of his flocks and herds, the finest of his fruits and grains. In the early days there were "high places" in every community, usually the summits of hills, where Jehovah had "set his name," where these sacrifices might be offered. At first the worshiper himself might kill the victim and offer the oblation. Upon the altars of Jehovah smoked the victims of countless sacrifices. Later the ceremonial was per Book of the Law 33 formed by priests and the "high places" became established altars. In the reign of Josiah (639-600 B. C.) the abuses of this system of worship became intolerable. The high places became the scenes of the grossest immorality. All kinds of idolatry were practiced, and personal uncleanness abounded. The local priests were unable or unwilling to check the abuses. It was to meet this serious situation that the entire body of Israel's laws was collected into a code. In solemn manner it was announced to the people that the "Book of the Law” had been discovered while making repairs in the temple, 2 Kings 22, and that it dated back to Moses. This Book of the Law, it has been agreed by practically all scholars since Jerome, is the Deuteronomic Code, found in chapters 5 to 11 and 12 to 26 of Deuteronomy. manded the complete destruction of the old altars and sacred places scattered through Palestine. All worship was hereafter centered in the temple at Jerusalem. This made worship difficult and expensive to the common people, but it had the effect of doing away with many of the abuses that could be cured only by this drastic reform. Henceforth the story of Jewish worship and culture centers in the temple. An elaborate ritual was the inevitable consequence. An extensive organization of priests, Levites and helpers sprang up at Jerusalem. All power and authority were vested in the priesthood, both religious and civil, and all the currents of Jewish life were reversed. D, as the Deuteronomic Code will hereafter be referred to was an expansion of JE which was not yet united to P, and was undoubtedly a re-codification of all laws in force up to that time, including those in the Book of the Covenant. In this respect it may be compared to the Code of Justinian which summarized and codified all Roman law up to that time, and to the Code Napoleon, that splendid remolding of French law which constitutes |