YAHVEH used His Law to bring the Israelites closer to Him. Before He gave them the Law, the people of Israel did not know how YAHVEH wanted them to act. However, when Israel camped by Mount Sinai, YAHVEH gave the Law to Moses, who delivered it to the people. The Law covered every part of life for the Israelites and it told them exactly what YAHVEH expected. Obedience would be rewarded with blessing; disobedience meant punishment. The goal of the Law was this: to produce maturity and conformity to the image of YAHVEH.

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF YAHVEH’S LAW
When people were created in the image of YAHVEH, they received guidance for their daily lives from the Creator of the universe (Genesis 1:27-30). However, because man had an exalted status over YAHVEH’s other creations on earth; he had to prove his loyalty to YAHVEH. YAHVEH set up a simple test of Adam and Eve’s loyalty when He created the tree of knowledge of good and evil. YAHVEH told Adam and Eve they were not allowed to eat the fruit of that tree (Genesis 2:17). When Adam and Eve disobeyed YAHVEH ’s command, they were no longer fit to have a relationship with YAHVEH. Because of this first sin, people became full of treachery and disobedience. Humanity’s sinful nature is clearly described in the story of Cain (Genesis 4:1-16), the story of the Flood (Genesis 6:1-13), the story of Ham and Canaan (Genesis 9:18-26; Genesis 10:6-20). However, even though people were constantly disobedient YAHVEH still mercifully called Abraham to follow Him. YAHVEH promised to bless Abraham, his descendants and all of the people who would eventually believe in the same YAHVEH Abraham believed in (Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 17:4-7). Abraham responded to YAHVEH’s promise by being faithful (Genesis 15:6), by observing the ritual of circumcision as a sign of the covenant he made with YAHVEH (Genesis 17:10) and by walking before YAHVEH with integrity of heart (Genesis 17:1). Abraham learned later that YAHVEH was sovereign and He had chosen Abraham’s family in the hopes that they would be different from the other sinful nations “and do what is right and just” (Genesis 18:19). Even though YAHVEH did not give Abraham detailed Laws he was supposed to follow, He was pleased with him because he was a man of integrity. Abraham’s heart was right with YAHVEH. Because of this, he willingly did what YAHVEH commanded him to do. Abraham, who is sometimes called “the father of faith,” became the father of the faithful nation of Israel. Adonai said that Abraham “obeyed all My requirements, commands, regulations and Laws” (Genesis 26:5). Because of Abraham’s faith, YAHVEH considered him to be a righteous person (James 2:21-24). YAHVEH blessed the nation of Israel with the increase of Abraham’s descendants, the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea and His comforting presence when they lived in the wilderness. However, Israel did not respond to YAHVEH’s blessing by being faithful to Him. Instead, they murmured and complained at Mount Sinai, at Kadesh-barnea and on the plains of Moab. There are many times in the Old Testament where the Israelites were a rebellious and stubborn group of people (Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3; Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 9:6; Deuteronomy 9:13). Even though they were not completely faithful to YAHVEH, our Adonai kept His covenant with Abraham by making a new covenant with the Israelites. With this covenant, Israel became YAHVEH’s people and His holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 26:18-19). YAHVEH gave Israel the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets that were a symbol for YAHVEH’s new covenant with the Israelites (Exodus 32:15-16). When YAHVEH gave Israel His Law it showed His grace and mercy toward the people of Israel (Exodus 34:6-7) and His determination to use them in His overall plan to save the world. When YAHVEH gave Israel His Law, it also showed how immature and stubborn the Israelites were. Because of this, the Law in the Old Testament has both positive and negative purposes.

LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament has many words for YAHVEH’s Law. The most general word is Torah, which is used to describe any type of instruction. This includes instruction that is religious or secular, written or spoken, divine or human. The Law in Israel was YAHVEH’s Law passed down to Moses (Exodus 20:19; Deuteronomy 5:23-27). Because the people of Israel rejected YAHVEH’s direct instructions to them, He had to use Moses as His mediator with the people (John 1:17). Other words for Law in various translations of the Bible include “Teachings” and “Regulations” (Exodus 24:3), “Word” (Deuteronomy 33:9), “Judgments” (Exodus 24:3 KJV), “Ordinance” (Numbers 9:12 KJV), “Commands” (Deuteronomy 6:2), “Statute” (Leviticus 3:17; 10:11, KJV), “Precepts” (Psalm 119:4, NIV), “Decrees” (1 Chronicles 29:19), “Stipulations” (Deuteronomy 6:17) , “Requirements” (1 Kings 2:3), “Testimonies” (Deuteronomy 4:45; 6:20, KJV) and His “Ways” (1 Kings 2:3; Psalms 18:21). It is hard to understand the small differences between these different words for YAHVEH’s Law. In most cases, “Word” usually deals with the duties that people have toward YAHVEH. When the word “judgment” or was used, it usually concerned duties the Israelites had to each other. “Ordinances” is usually used for the Laws pertaining to religious ceremonies, but it is also used for any type of expectation or regulation. The “commands” or “commandments” are regulations that are given by a higher authority. Even though the Old Testament has many words for Law, they generally mean the same thing. This is especially true when the Bible uses more than one word in the same passage. For example, the Bible says, “the Laws and Regulations” (Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 5:1), “the commands, laws, and regulations” (Deuteronomy 6:1), and “the requirements ... the laws, commands, regulations, and stipulations” (1 Kings 2:3). For the most part, all of these different words mean the same thing. The motivation for the Israelites to follow YAHVEH’s Laws came from YAHVEH’s acts and presence. The prologue to the Ten Commandments reminded the Israelites of YAHVEH’s power: “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt” (Exodus 20:2). In the historic acts of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, His work at Mount Sinai and His promise to make Israel His people, YAHVEH became a father figure to all of the Israelites. He adopted Israel as His child and declared that it was a holy nation (Exodus 19:6; Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8; Leviticus 22:32). YAHVEH told the Israelites, “It is I, the LORD, who makes you holy” (Leviticus 22:32). The Israelites were also motivated to be obedient to YAHVEH’s Laws because of YAHVEH’s presence with them. Our Adonai commanded Israel to be holy because He is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2) and because He lived in the midst of them (Exodus 25:8; Exodus 29:45). Because Israel’s people were naturally sinful, the only way they could understand exactly what YAHVEH wanted them to do was with precise moral, social and civil regulations. Adonai had observed that they did not have “the heart” to serve Him simply because of the covenant (Deuteronomy 5:29). Because of Israel’s disobedience, the Israelites could not invent a law system that would be pleasing to YAHVEH. Because of the Israelite’s sin, YAHVEH had to clearly reveal His will to them.

ISRAELITE LAW AND THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
Israel’s Law was similar to the laws practiced by other nations in the ancient Near East. For instance, the Code of Hammurabi has many things in common with the Law in the Bible. However, YAHVEH’s Law for the Israelites was different from the laws of these other nations because it came from a divine source. Moses was the mediator for the Law. He did not make up the Law and give it to the people as Hammurabi did. YAHVEH Himself gave Israel the Laws that would guide them (Deuteronomy 4:5-8). The Laws in the ancient Near East dealt with the general ordering of society. Israel’s Laws on the other hand covered every aspect of life. This included personal matters, the family, social Laws and Laws governing religion. The Laws were used to help Israel distinguish between things that were either holy or profane, things that were either clean or unclean or things that were either just or unjust.

OLD TESTAMENT LAWS
All of the Laws in the Old Testament are not contained in one book or in one section. Instead, YAHVEH gave them to the Israelites over an extended period of time, from their experience in the desert to their entry into the Promised Land. The Old Testament Laws are full of variations and repetition. The Law is found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
The Ten Commandments are simply described as “the words” of YAHVEH (Exodus 20:1 NRSV). They appear in Exodus 20:1-17 and in Deuteronomy 5:6-21, but minor variations and individual commandments occur in other parts of the Bible (Exodus 34:14; Exodus 34:17; Exodus 34:21; Leviticus 19:1-8; Deuteronomy 27:15-16). As a part of their covenant with YAHVEH, the Commandments were first addressed to Israel. However, these very same Commandments now form the basis of moral behaviour for Christians today. The relevance of the Ten Commandments is clear from the New Testament. Yeshua said that He had the authority to interpret all of the Commandments (Matthew 5:17-48; Matthew 12:1-14; Matthew 23:23-24). He also summarized YAHVEH’s Law by saying the two greatest Commandments were to love YAHVEH and love your neighbour (Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:8-9; Galatians 5:14). In addition, Yeshua said that since He was Adonai of the Shabbat, the Commandment about the Shabbat cannot be separated from the other Commandments (Matthew 12:8). The apostle Paul also upheld the Law. His “ethics of the Spirit” shows how Christians kept the Law of YAHVEH in their hearts (Romans 8:1-17; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Galatians 5:13-6:10; Titus 3:1-11). YAHVEH wrote the Commandments on both sides of the two tablets (Exodus 32:15-16). We cannot be sure if the two tablets were duplicate copies or how the commandments were divided or numbered. They were kept in the Ark of the Covenant so the Israelites would always remember their covenant with YAHVEH (Exodus 40:20).

THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT
YAHVEH’s Covenant Law for the Israelites was supposed to set up a legal system that reflected YAHVEH’s concern for justice, love, peace and the value of life. The Laws in the Book of the Covenant mostly regulated life in an agricultural society with servants, donkeys, bulls, oxen, sheep and fields of grain (Exodus 20:23-23:19). The regulations in the Book of the Covenant pertain to relations with women, including widows, aliens and orphans. They also give Laws governing liability, damages and ownership. In addition, it includes religious Laws about YAHVEH’s altar and the Shabbat. Most of the time, the punishment for a crime involved paying for what was stolen or damaged, but this was not the case when human life was involved (Exodus 21:12-29; Exodus 22:2-3), especially when it involves one’s family (Exodus 21:15-17; Exodus 22-25). YAHVEH’s Laws for Israel are very clear concerning the value YAHVEH places on human life. The Book of the Covenant, by giving examples of various cases, shows how Israel must live together as a nation that embraces the Law of YAHVEH justly, lovingly and peaceably.

THE PRIESTLY LAW
YAHVEH’s concern for holiness and purity is expressed in the Laws He gave to the priests of Israel (Exodus 25-31; Leviticus 1-27; Numbers 4-10). The regulations in these Laws deal with the construction of the tabernacle, the consecration of priests, the offerings and sacrifices, rules of purity, the holy days and vows. The tabernacle was set up in the middle of Israel’s camp in the wilderness. It symbolized the presence of YAHVEH with His people. The priests and Levites made their camp around the tabernacle to serve and protect YAHVEH’s holiness. All the tribes were situated around the tabernacle and even though the members of the tribes did not have access to all parts of the tabernacle, they had to be clean to live in the camp. Anyone who was defiled according to the Law (Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:1-3) or had sinned grievously had to live outside the camp (Leviticus 24:10-23; Numbers 15:32-36). This regulation even included objects that had become defiled (Leviticus 8:17; Leviticus 9:11). By offering sacrifices to YAHVEH, Israel could be assured that YAHVEH had forgiven them for the sins they had committed (Leviticus 1-7; (Leviticus 16; Numbers 15:1-31; Numbers 28). The offerings and sacrifices were the perfect symbol for forgiveness, dedication and fellowship. The priests and Levites taught the Law of YAHVEH (Deuteronomy 31:9-13), applied its regulations and served in courts (Deuteronomy 17:8-13).

THE HOLINESS CODE
The holiness code forms a significant part of the book of Leviticus, from chapters 17 to 26. Moses addressed these Laws to all the people in Israel (Leviticus 17:2; Leviticus 20:2; Leviticus 26:46; Leviticus 27:2). The Laws are in the form of prohibitions and direct commands. They pertain to the place of sacrifice and they told the Israelites they were not allowed to eat meat with blood in it (Leviticus 17). The Laws also outlawed sexual relations with specific family members (Leviticus 18). In addition, the Holiness Code gave guidelines promoting godliness, holiness, justice and love (Leviticus 19). There were strict penalties for people who sinned against any of these regulations (Leviticus 20; Leviticus 24:10-23). Chapters 21 to 24 apply the cultic regulations to the priests and to all Israelites. These Laws also gave regulations for the Shabbatical year and the Year of Jubilee, which involved the forgiveness of debts, the freedom of the people and Laws governing the land (Leviticus 25). The holiness code spells out the behaviour YAHVEH expected from a holy nation. He expected them to be devoted to Him and to love each other (Leviticus 19:18). He also wanted them to be concerned for justice, peace, freedom, the value of human life and the family. Many of the Laws in the Holiness Book echo Laws that were in the Ten Commandments (Leviticus 19). Both promises and curses are included to the holiness code (Leviticus 26). The curses predict that people who broke the Laws would be exiled. However as always, underlying the Laws and penalties was the grace of YAHVEH, Who promised to freely forgive the people’s sin and renew the broken covenant (Leviticus 26:44-45).

THE LAWS OF DEUTERONOMY
The Laws of Deuteronomy are explanations and new applications of the Laws in the Book of the Covenant. These new Laws were necessary because Israel’s situation had greatly changed from the time the old Laws were given. Israel was about to enter the Promised Land when Moses outlined to them the Law of YAHVEH (Deuteronomy 1:5). The impersonal nature of the Book of the Covenant is changed in the new Law to be very personal. Moses strongly appealed to Israel to be loyal to Adonai, the covenant and the Laws YAHVEH gave them. The Laws of Deuteronomy envision the people in the Promised Land, with a central place of worship (Deuteronomy 12:5) and with a king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The blessings and the curses involved with these Laws motivated the Israelites to be loyal to the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:1). However, YAHVEH also reminds Israel that even if they break the Law, He will always be gracious and forgiving toward them.

PURPOSES OF THE LAW
The Law YAHVEH revealed at Mount Sinai was intended to bring Israel closer to YAHVEH. Even though the Israelites were very rebellious, YAHVEH used the Law in order to teach them what sin is (Romans 5:20; Romans 7:7-8) and how they should live their lives in ways that were pleasing to the Holy King Most High. The Law was the teacher and the keeper of Israel (Galatians 3:24). The detailed explanations of the Laws in all areas of life including work, society, family and religion had an important place in YAHVEH’s plans for Israel. Israel was a nation in a special land, with a government based around their belief in YAHVEH and they were in need of governing Laws. In addition, because the Israelites were a stubborn people, YAHVEH could not directly reveal His Law to them. Instead, the Law had to be given to Moses, who then brought it to the Israelites. It had to be so detailed because the Israelites had no real understanding of YAHVEH’s holiness, justice, righteousness, love and forgiveness. Moses and the prophets emphasized that the purpose of the Law is not so people will be legalistic about it or follow it in hope of a reward later. Following the Law was an act of devotion to YAHVEH, simply because He was YAHVEH. YAHVEH stated that the Law would help people establish a lifestyle where people continually seek YAHVEH’s will and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). YAHVEH wanted to use His Law to make Israel a holy nation. He set Israel apart by an act of grace and He required that the people remain holy. In the New Testament, Yeshua said that the Law helped people understand they were sinful and that they needed to believe in Yeshua in order to have eternal forgiveness. When He died on the cross, Yeshua took the sins of the world upon Himself, accepted the penalties of the Law and demonstrated YAHVEH’s love for all people. Yeshua taught that people were supposed to obey the Law not primarily to receive a reward but to serve as salt (Matthew 5:13) and light (Matthew 5:14-16) and to bear fruit (John 15:1-17). The purpose of YAHVEH’s Law is to gradually transform the children of YAHVEH into holy people (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:10), to imitate YAHVEH (Ephesians 5:1-2) and to be filled with the Spirit of YAHVEH (Galatians 5:18, 22-24). Because of this, Yeshua gave us the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. These two messages summarize the teaching of Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament (Matthew 5-7). The purpose of the Law is to transform believers into spiritually mature people. Spiritual maturity is not a privilege that was reserved for believers who came after HaMashiach’s death and Resurrection. There were Old Testament saints like Enoch, Noah and Abraham who walked with YAHVEH. These were mature men who lived with integrity in the presence of YAHVEH (Genesis 17:1; Deuteronomy 18:13; Psalms 15:1-2). Eventually, YAHVEH wants Christians to delight in doing His will (Psalms 1:2; Psalms 112). When this happens, Christians are no longer afraid accidentally sinning. Since the coming of HaMashiach, the Spirit of YAHVEH has been given to all people who believe in Yeshua. The Spirit of YAHVEH does not only put YAHVEH’s Laws in the believer’s heart (Jeremiah 31:33),but He also helps us become more mature (Galatians 5:22-24). While spiritual maturity and freedom were experienced by a few people in the Old Testament, YAHVEH offers it to all people who believe in the living HaMashiach (Acts 2:39; 1 Corinthians 12:13). The purpose of YAHVEH’s Law is still the same: “It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do” (2 Timothy 3:17). However, the way people accomplish this is now different because of Yeshua’s work on earth.