Social Laws of Moses

1
Social Laws of Moses
2
Government Leaders Under Moses

• (Future) Kings Deut 1714-20
• God chooses
• Countryman
• Not multiply horses, wives, silver and gold
• Copy and ready Gods law
• Not lift his heart above his countrymen
• Judges
• Fair, impartial judges Lev 1915 Deut 1618-20
• Appeals to Moses, and Levite priests and judges
  Deut 178-9
• Death penalty for refusing appellate
  decisionDeut 1710-13
• Evidence requires 2 or 3 witnesses Deut 1915

3
Punishment Under Moses

• Lex talionis
• Frivolous lawsuit just has he intended to do to
  his brother Deut 1916-19
• Injury eye for eye and tooth for tooth Lev
  1920-21
• Corporal punishment Deut 251-3
• Beat no more than 40 lashes
• Dont degrade your brother
• Capital Punishment
• Hang on a tree bury same day Deut 2122-23
• God will not acquit killing the innocent Ex 237

4
Restitution

• Pay damages plus 20 Lev 62-5 Num 58
• To aggrieved party or his relative
• If no relative for restitution, pay the priest.
• Pay compensation for negligent damage
• Open pit Ex 2133-34
• Dangerous animal Ex 2128-36
• Animals eating up neighbors field. Ex 225

5
Personal Crimes In Israel
6
Killing

• Murder Punishable by Death Lev 2417
• Killing with malice aforethought Deut 1111-13
• Negligent Homicide is murder Ex 2129
• Causing death of unborn child Ex 2122-23
• Blood avenger is to kill the murderer Deut
  1111-13
• Manslaughter Ex 2112-14 Deut 194-6
• Killing without malice is not murder
• Cities of refuge protect until trial

7
Kidnapping Or Assault

• Kidnapping Deut 247
• Death penalty
• Whether for selling or keeping a person
• Assault
• Lex talionis Lev 1919-20
• Compensatory damages Ex 2119-20
• Certain sexual assault cut off womans hand if
  she seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing
  assailants genitals. Deut 2511-12

8
Sexual AssaultDeut 2223-29

• Rape of un-engaged virgin
• Pay dowry and marry her with no divorce allowed
• At least pay dowry if father refuses to let her
  marry
• Rape of engaged virgin
• In the city stone them both she didnt cry out
• In the field stone him nobody heard her cry
  out

9
Business and Property Law

• Ownership
• Make good any animal you kill. Lev 2421
• Protect neighbors property. Lev 221-4 2324-25
• Respect your neighbors boundary. Deut 1914
• Real Estate Deut 2523-34
• Israelites may bank on their property, but not
  sell it
• Arrangements must be made for redemption of the
  property
• The property must revert to the family at Jubilee
• Employment
• Pay hired man before sundown Lev 1913 Deut
  2414-15
• Release indentured countryman in 6 yrs, not
  empty-handed Lev 2539-43 Deut 1512-14
• Slavery
• Limit slavery to foreigners. Lev 2544-46
• Do not return escaped slaves Deut 2315-16
• Limited punishment for hurting slaves Ex 2120-21

10
Loans, Contracts, Measures

• Honest sales practices Lev 1911, 35-36
• No Stealing, false dealing, false measures
• Limits on womens vows Num 303-8
• Vow can be voided by father or husband
• No interest allowed to countrymen Lev 2319-20
• Collateral limits Deut 246-10-13, 17
• No tools of trade as collateral
• Collateral must be given voluntarily
• Cloak as collateral returned nightly
• Widows garments cannot be taken for collateral.
• You cant go in and get it debtor must bring it.
• Insolvency Allowances Lev 2539-43, 47-55
• You can let a fellow-Israelite work off debts,
  but not enslaved
• You must allow relatives to redeem him
• You must release him at Jubilee