Law Given to Israel
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for magistrates and rulers was enjoined, and judges were warned
against perverting judgment, aiding a false cause, or receiving bribes.
Calumny and slander were prohibited, and acts of kindness enjoined,
even toward personal enemies.
Again the people were reminded of the sacred obligation of the
Sabbath. Yearly feasts were appointed, at which all the men of the
nation were to assemble before the Lord, bringing to Him their offer-
ings of gratitude and the first fruits of His bounties. The object of all
these regulations was stated: they proceeded from no exercise of mere
arbitrary sovereignty; all were given for the good of Israel. The Lord
said, “Ye shall be holy men unto Me”—worthy to be acknowledged
by a holy God.
These laws were to be recorded by Moses, and carefully treasured
as the foundation of the national law, and, with the ten precepts which
they were given to illustrate, the condition of the fulfillment of God’s
promises to Israel.
The message was now given them from Jehovah: “Behold, I send
an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into
the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him, and obey His voice,
provoke Him not; for He will not pardon your transgressions: for My
name is in Him. But if thou shalt indeed obey His voice, and do all that
I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary
unto thine adversaries.” During all the wanderings of Israel, Christ,
in the pillar of cloud and of fire, was their Leader. While there were
types pointing to a Saviour to come, there was also a present Saviour,
who gave commands to Moses for the people, and who was set forth
before them as the only channel of blessing.
Upon descending from the mountain, “Moses came and told the
people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the
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people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the
Lord hath said will we do.” This pledge, together with the words of the
Lord which it bound them to obey, was written by Moses in a book.
Then followed the ratification of the covenant. An altar was built
at the foot of the mountain, and beside it twelve pillars were set up,
“according to the twelve tribes of Israel,” as a testimony to their accep-
tance of the covenant. Sacrifices were then presented by young men
chosen for the service.