Law and Order

Exo. 22:27 

     You shall not mock a judge, nor curse a ruler of your people. 

Foreseeing a need to maintain order for the people, He established a legal code for the newly appointed judges to enforce. Called civil law, judicial law, or common law, this law was to govern the people with YHWH righteous judgment. 

The first matter of law concerned cases of male and female indentured servants. Exo. 21:1-11. 

• In cases where sons and daughters were sold by their fathers, the sons had the right to emancipation after seven years, while the daughters did not. 21:2, 7 
• If the daughter was rejected by the man who bought her, she had the right to be redeemed. 21:8 
• If the daughter was given to the son of the man who bought her, she was to be treated as his daughter-in-law, and not a slave. 21:9 
• If she became the buyer’s supplemental wife, she would have all the rights a wife would have. Otherwise, she has the right to emancipation. 21:10-21 

The second matter of law involved cases of manslaughter and murder. Exo. 21:12-15. 

• In the case of murder, the convicted party would be put to death. 21:12, 14 
• In the case of manslaughter, the guilty party would have to go to a designated place of sanctuary. 21:13 
• In cases where someone kills either of his parents—intentionally or otherwise, there would be no mercy given to that individual. They must be put to death. 21:15 

Further crimes are given the death penalty, including: 

• Kidnapping. 21:16 
• Cursing one’s parent. 21:17 

More judgments are given concerning various types of controversy, including: 

• Personal injury. 21:18-32 
• Injury of livestock. 21:33-36 
• Theft of livestock. 21:37-22:3 
• Injury to agricultural land. 22:4-5 
• Loss of personal property or livestock. 22:6-14 

In cases where a man finds a virgin, not betrothed to another, and sleeps with her, he must pay her father a dowry for her, regardless of if the father allows him to take her as his wife. Exo. 22:15-16. 

More death-worthy crimes are then given: 

• Black magic. 22:17 
• Bestiality. 22:18 
• Idolatry. 22:19 

Finally, protections are given for vulnerable people groups, including: 

• Foreign residents. 22:20 
• Widows and orphans. 22:21-23 
• The poor. 22:24-26