"The Law of Jehovah Is Perfect" - Laws That Highlight Judicial Mercy and Fair Treatment

The Law safeguarded personal rights.  Consider the ways in which it provided those in debt.  The Law forbade entry into a debtor's home to seize property as security for a loan.  Rather a creditor had to remain outside and allow the debtor to bring the security to him.  Thus a man's  home was held inviolate.  If the creditor took the debtor's outer garment as a pledge, he had to return it by nightfall, for the debtor likely needed it to keep warm at night. -Deuteronomy 24:10-14.

Even warfare was regulated under the Law. God's people were to wage war, not to satisfy a mere lust for power or conquest, but to act as God's agents in "Wars of Jehovah."  (Numbers 21:14)   In many cases, the Israelites had to offer terms of surrender first.  If a city rejected  the offer, then Israel could besiege it-but according to God's  rules.  Unlike many soldiers throughout history, men in Israel's army were not allowed to rape women or engage in  wanton slaughter.  They were to respect the environment, not felling the enemy's fruit trees.  Other armies had not such restrictions. -Deuteronomy  20:10-15, 19. 20; 21:10-13.  

Do you shudder to hear that in some lands mere children are being trained as soldiers?  In ancient Israel, no man under 20 years of age was inducted into the army.  (Numbers 1:2, 3)  Even an adult male was exempt if he suffered from undue fear.  A newly married man was exempt for a full year so that before embarking upon such hazardous service, he might see an heir born. In this way, the Law explained, the young husband would be able to  make his new wife "rejoice." -Deuteronomy 20:5, 6, 8; 24:5. 

Next time: "The Law of Jehovah Is Perfect" -Conclusion of  The Law Highlights Judicial Mercy and Fair Treatment 

From the book: Draw Close to Jehovah