Jehovah's Law in Israel

Abraham's descendants through his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, or Israel, grew into the nation of Israel.  Jehovah delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  (Genesis 32:28; 46:1-3; 2 Samuel 7:23, 24)  Soon thereafter, they promised whatever God asked of them.  They said:  "All that Jehovah has spoken we are willing to do."  (Exodus 19:8)  In keeping with the desire of the Israelites to be governed by him, Jehovah provided the nation with more than 600 laws, including the Ten Commandment.  In time, these laws of God, given through Moses, came to be known simply as the Law. -Ezra 7:6; Luke 10:25-27; John 1:17) 

One purpose of the Law was to safeguard the Israelites by providing some regulations governing such matters as sexual morality, business transactions, and child care. (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:6-18, 22:24; 19:35, 36; Deuteronomy 6:6-9) Rules were provided on how to treat fellow humans as well as one's animals.  (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 22:4, 10) Requirements that pertained to annual festivals and meeting together for worship helped to safeguard the people spiritually. -Leviticus 23:1-43; Deuteronomy 31:10-13. 

A major purpose of the Law was noted by the apostle Paul, who wrote:  "It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed [Christ] should arrive to whom the promise had been made." (Galatians 3:19)  The Law reminded  the Israelites that they were imperfect. Logically, then, they needed a perfect sacrifice that could completely remove their sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4) So the Law was intended to prepare the people to accept Jesus, who was the Messiah, or Christ. Paul wrote:  "The Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith." -Galatians 3:24. 

Next time: Was Jehovah's Law Burdensome? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999