Bible Laws
Author: Steve Amato
Description: Bible Study - Laws found in the Bible
Keywords: Old Testament Survey, The Law of Moses, Laws, Bible

# LAWS IN THE BIBLE

I | Forms of Government
II | Citizenship Under the Theocracy
III | Laws of the Theocracy
IV | Criminal Laws
V | Laws Pertaining to Domestic Relations
VI | Estates - Descent and Distribution Laws
VII | Social Security and Welfare Laws
VIII | Laws Pertaining to Contracts
IX | Religious Laws
X | Laws Pertaining to Legal Procedure
XI | Tort Laws
XII | Laws of Sanitation and Cleanliness
XIII | Laws Pertaining to Animals
XIV | Laws Concerning Interest and Loans

# I. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

A. Patriarchal The family being the unit of life, the father as head of the family was the authoritative ruler | Judg. 11:29-40 Job 1:5
B. Theocracy God was the direct ruler of His people | Ex 19:3-8
C. Government by judges The people forgot God. God chastised them by selling them into slavery to their enemies. Upon repentance God raised up military chieftains as deliverers | Judg. 2:13-18
D. Monarchy This was begun by the coronation of Saul, reached its height in David and Solomon, and ended with the Babyolonian captivity. | 1Sam 10:24

# II. CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE THEOCRACY

A. Israelites Those of Israel who ratified the covenant of Sinai, and later their children, were entitled to the rights of citizenship | Ex 19:5-8 Deut 6:1-9
B. Moabites and Ammonites excluded | Deut 23:3
C. Edomites and Egyptians in the third generation were eligible | Deut 23:7,8

# III. LAWS OF THE THEOCRACY

A. Pertaining to citizenship |
1. Law applied equally to strangers as to natives | Lev 24:22 Num 15:22-30
2. Jew not to marry a stranger | Gen 34:14
3. Strangers could own slaves | Lev 25:47-55
B. Pertaining to slavery |
1. Slaves obtained |
a. Captured in war | Num 31:7-11
b. Inherited | Lev 25:46
c. Bought | Ex 21:2
d. Sold for debt or theft | Ex 22:3 Deut 15:12
2. How to treat slaves |
a. Israelites could be redeemed from slavery | Lev 25:47-55
b. Jewish slaves to be set free in Year of Jubilee | Lev 25:39-41
c. Regarded as part of owner's household and possession | Gen 12:16 Ex 20:17
d. Could be struck by master | Ex 21:20,21
e. Fugitive not to be returned | Deut 23:15,16 1Sam 30:15
f. Freed if ill-treated | Ex 21:26,27
g. To enjoy the Sabbath | Ex 20:10
C. Pertaining to taxation |
1. Census taken | Luke 2:1-3
2. Purpose of taxes |
a. Valuation of persons | Lev 27:1-13
b. Temple service | Ex 30:11-16 2Chr 24:6,9
c. Taxes | Matt 22:15-21 Rom 13:6,7
3. Amount of taxes | 1Sam 8:10-18
4. Priests and attendants exempt | Ezra 7:24
D. Military laws |
1. Age of soldiers | Num 1:2,3; 26:2
2. Selective draft | Num 31:3-7
3. Exemption from service |
a. Levites | Num 1:49
b. Certain individuals | Deut 20:5-7
c. Fainthearted | Deut 20:8
4. Cleanliness in camp | Num 31:19,20 Deut 23:9-14
5. Regulations in battle |
a. Notice to be given | Deut 20:10,11
b. Fruit trees spared | Deut 20:19,20
c. Treatment of captives | Num 21:2,3,35; 31:17,18 Deut 20:14-18 Josh 11:14
d. Plunder | Deut 20:14
e. Indemnity | 2King 3:4

# IV CRIMINAL LAWS

A. Crimes against the public |
1. Bribery | Ex 23:8 Deut 16:19 Prov 17:23
2. Contempt for the law | Num 15:30 Deut 6:16,17
Penalty | Deut 17:12,13
3. Perjury | Ex 20:16 Lev 19:12
Penalty | Deut 19:16-20
4. Perverting or obstructing justice | Ex 23:1,2,6 Lev 19:15 Ps 82:2
Penalty | Deut 16:19,20
5. Conspiracy | 2Sam 15:10-12
B. Crimes of immoral acts |
1. Adultery | Ex 20:14 Deut 5:18
Penalty | Lev 20:10 Deut 22:22-25
2. Rape | Deut 22:25,26
Penalty | Deut 22:25-29
3. Prostitution | Deut 23:17
Penalty | Lev 19:29; 21:9
4. Seduction | Ex 22:16,17
Penalty | Deut 22:28,29
5. Incest | Lev 18:6-18 Deut 22:30
Penalty | Lev 20:11-21
6. Sodomy | Lev 18:22,23 Deut 23:17
Penalty | Ex 22:19 Lev 20:13,15,16
C. Crimes against persons |
1. Murder | Ex 20:13
Penalty | Gen 9:6 Ex 21:12
2. Manslaughter | Ex 21:12-14 Josh 20:3-6
Penalty | Num 35:11, 22-28
3. Assault | Ex 21:18-26
Penalty | Ex 21:19-27
4. Kidnapping | Ex 21:16 Deut 24:7
5. Slander | Lev 19:16
D. Crimes against property |
1. Stealing | Ex 20:15 22:1-12 Deut 23:24,25
2. Arson | Ex 22:6
3. Moving a landmark | Deut 19:14

# V. LAWS PERTAINING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS

A. Marriage |
1. Ordained by God | Gen 1:27,28; 2:18,24
2. Within the tribe | Num 36:6
3. Polygamy forbidden | 1Cor 7:2 1Tm 3:2
4. Marriage forbidden with: |
a. Stepmother | Lev 18:8; 20:11
b. Aliens | Ex 34:13-17 Deut 7:-3
c. Sister | Lev 20:17
d. Aunt | Lev 20:19
e. Grandchild | Lev 18:10
f. Daughter-in-law | Lev 18:15
5. Divorce | Lev 21:7; 22:13 Is 50:1 1Cor 7:10,11
a. Not to remarry woman divorced by another man | Deut 24:1-4
b. For committing adultery | Jer 3:8 Matt 19:3-9 Mark 10:2-12 Luke 16:8
B. Parent and child |
1. Father has authority over child | Num 30:3-5
2. Father to arrange marriage | Gen 24:2-4
3. Parents to educate | Deut 21:18-21 Prov 22:6 Eph 6:4
4. Parents to discipline | Deut 21:18-21 Prov 22:15
5. Children to honor parents | Ex 20:12; 21:15
6. Children to be regarded as gift of God | Gen 33:5; 48:9 Josh 24:3
7. Penalty for children who dishonor parents | Lev 20:9 Deut 21:18-21

# VI. ESTATES -
DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION LAWS

A. Inheritance |
1. Sons inherit father's estate | Gen 21:10-13 1Chr 5:1
2. Double portion to firstborn | Deut 21:15-17
3. Wife not heir, bud ascends with property to next of kin. | Ruth 4:1-12
4. Daughters heirs when no sons | Num 27:8,9
5. When no sons or daughters, inheritance to nearest relative | Num 27:9-11
B. Real property - titles |
1. Real Estate |
a. Land divided among tribes | Num 26:52-56 Josh 14:5
b. Not transferable | Num 36:6-9
c. Not permanently sold | Lev 25:23-28
d. Value of land according to years after Jubilee | Lev 25:25,16
e. Release of land | Lev 25:8-34
f. Mode of transfer |
(1) Deed made | Jer 32:9-14
(2) Taking off sandal | Ruth 4:3-11
(3) Deed delivered in presence of witnesses | Jer 32:10,12
(4) Deed recorded | Jer 32:14
2. Personal property (All property which is moveable, as against real property such as houses and lands) |
a. Sale recognized | Lev 25:14
b. Pledges of: |
(1) Children given as | 2Kin 4:1-7
(2) Upper and lower millstone prohibited | Deut 24:6
(3) Not retained overnight | Ex 22:26,27 Deut 24:13
(4) Volutary | Deut 24:10,11

# VII. SOCIAL SECURITY AND WELFARE LAWS

A. Widows and orphans | Ex 22:22,23 Deut 14:28,29 Acts 6:1-4 1Tim 5:3-16
1. Widow to marry nearest relative | Deut 25:5-10
2. Widow and orphans not to be oppressed | Zech 7:9-12 Mal 3:5
B. Neighbors | Lev 19:13
C. The poor | Ex 22:25-27 Lev 19:9,10 Deut 15:7-11 Luke 3:11; 14:13,14
D. Strangers or aliens | Lev 19:33,34 Deut 24:19-22 Zech 7:9-12
E. Poor and needy | Deut 24:14,15
F. Servants | Deut 24:14,15
G. Handicapped |
1. Blind | Lev 19:14 Deut 27:18 Luke 14:13,14
2. Deaf | Lev 19:14
3. Lame | Luke 14:12-14

# VIII. LAWS PERTAINING TO CONTRACTS

A. Debts | Ex 22:25 Deut 15:1-3 Neh 5:10,11
B. With Neighbors | Deut 15:1-3
C. With Foreigners | Deut 15:1-3
D. Interest | Ex 22:25 Lev 25:35-37 Deut 23:19,20 Ezek 18:10-13
E. Loans | Ex 22:25 Deut 23:19,20 2Kin 4:1-7 Neh 5:2-5
F. Mortgages | Neh 5:2-5
G. Pledges | (See VI B 2)
H. Sales | Lev 25:14
I. Sales of land | Lev 25:23-28 Ruth 4:3-11 Jer 32:9-14
J. Of servitude | Ex 21:2-4 Deut 15:12
K. Sureties | Prov 6:1,2; 17:18

# IX. RELIGIOUS LAWS

A. Clean and unclean meat | lev 11:2-31 Deut 14:3-21
B. Forbidden foods |
1. Fat and blood | Lev 17:10-14
2. Flesh torn by beasts | Ex 22:31
3. Fruit of young trees | Lev 19:23-25
C. Sacred obligations |
1. Firstborn | Ex 34:19,20
2. Firstfruits | Ex 34:26 Deut 18:4
3. Tithes | Gen 14:19,20 Lev 27:30-33 2Chr 31:4-12 Mal 3:8-11 Matt 23:23
4. Atonement money | Ex 30:12-16
5. Freewill offering | Lev 2217-20 Num 15:1-4
D. Sacred calendar |
1. Sabbath | Gen 2:1-3 Ex 16:23 Lev 23:3 Num 29:9,10 Deut 5:12-15 Neh 10:31 zek 46:3
a. Punsihmentfor not keeping | Num 15:32-36
b. Made for man | Mark 2:23-28
c. Healing on the Sabbath | Luke 13:14-17; 14:3-5 John 5:8-16
2. Passover | Ex 2:1-14 Deut 16:1-8 Ezed 45:21,24 Luke 22:7-8
3. Feast of Unleavened Bread | Ex 34:18
4. Feasts of Weeks | Deut 16:9-11
5. Feast of Tabernacles | Lev 23:33-44 Num 29:12-40 Deut 16:13-17
6. Sabbatical Year | Ex 21:2-6; 23:10,11 Lev 25:1-7 Deut 15:1-14 2Chr 36:21 Neh 10:31
7. Day of Atonement | Lev 23:26-32
E. Crimes against God |
1. Worship of false gods | Ex 20:1-5
Penalty | Ex 22:20
2. Spiritualism | Lev 20:27
Penalty | Ex 22:18
3. Blasphemy | Lev 24:16 Deut 5:11
Penalty | Lev 24:16

# X. LAWS PERTAINING TO
LEGAL PROCEDURE

A. Judges appointed | Ex 18:13-26 2Chr 19:4-11
1. Moses, first judge | Ex 18:13-27
2. Preists judge in small matters | Ex 18:22
3. King as judge | 1Kin 7:1-7
B. Submission of cases |
1. Ordinary cases submitted to judges | Deut 25:1,2
2. Exceptional cases taken to Levitical preiest for verdict | Deut 17:8-11
3. Extreme cases submitted to the Lord for decision | Num 5:11-31
4. Judges must not pervert justice | Ex 23:6-8
5. Bribery forbidden | Deut 16:18-20
C. Where courts were held |
1. At gate of city | Deut 21:19
2. In Hall of Judgment | 1Kin 7:7
D. Judgments |
1. Regarded as from God | Deut 1:17
2. Righteous to be justified and wicked condemned | Deut 25:1
3. Sentence to be executed | Deut 25:2,3
E. Appeals |
1. To Moses | Ex 18:26
2. To Priests | Deut 17:8-11
3. To the King | 1Kin 3:16-27
F. Damages |
1. For disfiguring a person | Lev 24:19,20
2. For stealing | Ex 22:4,5
3. Kindling a fire which destroys property | Ex 22:6
4. Breach of trust | Lev 6:1-5
5. Killing an animal | Ex 21:35,36 Lev 24:18,21
6. Loss of animal falling into pit | Ex 21:33,34
7. Loss of borrowed property | Ex 22:14
G. Methods of punishment |
1. Infliction in kind | Gen 9:6 Lev 24:19,20
2. Burning | Lev 20:14
3. Mutilation | Deut 25:11,12
4. Hanging | Deut 21:22,23
5. Stoning | Lev 24:16
6. Beating | Deut 25:2,3
7. Excommunication | Ezra 10:8
8. Imprisonment | Ezra 7:26
9. Compensation for damages | Ex 21:19,32,36
10. Restitution for stolen or borrowed property | Ex 22:12,14,15
H. Method of protection |
1. Cities of refuge appointed | Num 35:6-15
2. Protection till trial could be held | Num 35:12
3. Murderer unprotected | Num 35:30,31
4. Unintentional manslayer remained in city of refuge till death of high priest | Josh 20:1-6

# XI. TORT LAWS

A. Assault | Ex 21:18,19
B. Compensation | Ex 21:18,19,32
C. Damage by animals | Ex 21:32
D. Damage by fire | Ex 22:6
E. Injury to animals | Ex 21:33-36 Lev 24:18,21
F. Loss of borrowed property | Ex 22:14,15
G. Personal injury | Lev 24:19,20
H. Rights of strangers | Lev 24:22

# XII. LAWS OF SANITATION AND CLEANLINESS

A. Cleansing of the woman after childbirth | Lev 12:1-8
B. Test for leprosy | Lev 13:1-59
C. Cleansing of the leper's house | Lev 14:33-57
D. Cleansing of males with discharge | Lev 15:1-15
E. Laws concerning the woman during menstruation | Lev 15:24-33

# XIII. LAWS PERTAINING TO ANIMALS

A. Beasts of burden | Ex 23:12 Deut 25:4
B. Beasts of the field | Ex 23:11
C. Mother and young | Lev 22:28 Deut 22:6,7
D. Enemy's animals | Ex 23:4,5 Deut 22:4

# XIV. LAWS CONCERNING INTEREST AND LOANS

Interest on money was called usury in biblical times. (Now usury means excess interest.)
A. Taking of interest forbidden among Jews (The money was borrowed for relief of distress) | Ex 22:25 Deut 23:19,20
B. Allowed to be taken from foreigners (Money was borrowed by foreigner to develop trade) | Deut 23:20
C. Property returned without interest | Neh 5:11-13
D. Differing weights and measures forbidden | Deut 25:13-16

## The Open Bible Thomas Nelson Publishers

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

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