Picture source: commons.wikimedia.org
I documented, categorized, and counted all the Laws of Moses and this document is to show my findings. In all, I found there to be 518 laws all together. Many of the laws are mentioned more than once; therefore, if the redundancies were removed there would be less. For example, of the 518 laws there are 7instances of the law instructing us to not eat blood.
I have seen in others document that there are 613 laws, I am not sure how that count was derived. I did not attempt to reconcile my count with anyone else’s count. I would suspect that I did not break down the laws as much as they did. So, I am not stating the 613 count is wrong.
Of the 518 laws, I categorized and made a count of the following:
· 98 laws that either would be easier to follow if they were nationwide laws or laws that are required to be nationwide in order to be able to follow them (i.e. Money is gold and silver).
· 181 laws are required only if the situation presents itself or if our current situation prevents us from following the law.
· 22 laws regarding tithing.
· 33 laws that state they are in affect forever.
· 36 laws that the penalty is capital punishment (I may have missed a few of these).
· 107 laws regarding food.
· 132 laws were either referred to or mentioned in Genesis (385 laws that I found no mention in Genesis).
· 333 laws were either referred to or mentioned in the New Testament (184 were not mentioned that I am aware).
· 146 laws were not mentioned in both Genesis or the New Testament.
· 94 laws were mentioned in both Genesis and the New Testament.
· 67 laws were mentioned in Revelations.
Here is a link to my spreadsheet for your review and analysis: Laws of Moses Spreadsheet
As you review this spreadsheet, I am sure you might find things wrong with it or that you would have done it differently. I know this since I changed my mind on a few things a few times.
Commandments, Ordinances, Statues and Judgements
In the verse below, we learn that Abraham kept God’s laws even before the laws were given in Exodus. This is because most of the laws were already in existence prior to be given in Exodus. As shown above, 132 laws were referred to or mentioned in Genesis proving they were in existence prior. These verses below show that Our Father in Heaven had commandments, ordinances, and statutes in effect during Abraham’s lifetime.
“And I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven; and I will give to thy seed all this land, and all the nations of the earth shall be blest in thy seed. Because Abraam thy father hearkened to my voice, and kept my injunctions, and my commandments, and my ordinances, and my statutes.” LXX Gen 26:4-5
“I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” ESV Gen 26:4-5
Our Father in Heaven begins telling the law to Moses in Exodus, then continues to tell him the law in Levitus, Numbers and Deuteronomy where these laws were recorded. This is where the Israelites were given additional laws in preparation for Jesus’ birth. The verses below show the Israelites agreed to follow our Father in Heavens’ commandments, statutes, ordinances, judgements, rules, etc.
“On this day the Lord thy God charged thee to keep all the ordinances and judgments; and ye shall observe and do them, with all your heart, and with all your soul. Thou hast chosen God this day to be thy God, and to walk in all his ways, and to observe his ordinances and judgments, and to hearken to his voice.” LXX Deu 26:16-17
“This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.” ESV Deu 26:16-17
So based on these verses we know that our Father in Heaven gave commandments with statutes and ordinances. Below are the English definitions for the words the translators choose.
· Commandments; from Old French comandement, from comander. A divinely ordained command, especially one of the Ten Commandments. Something that must be obeyed; a command or edict.
· Statutes; from Old French statut, from Late Latin statutum (“a statute meaning established, erected”). A law or decree made by a sovereign, or by God.
· Ordinances; from Old French ordenance (“decree, command”) (modern French ordonnance), from Medieval Latin ordinantia, from ordinans (“arrange, put in order”), the present participle of ordino (“put in order”). Latin meaning to arrange, put in order, organize, to rule, govern, and to ordain, appoint to office.
· Judgments; from rom Old French jugement, from Late Latin iūdicāmentum, from Latin iūdicō. Latin meaning to examine judicially, judge, pass judgement, decide; condemn. In English the meaning is the final award; the last sentence. The conclusion or result of judging; an opinion; a decision.
· Law; from Old Norse lǫg (“law”, literally “things laid down or firmly established”), originally the plural of lag (“layer, stratum, a laying in order, measure, stroke”), from Proto-Germanic *lagą (“that which is laid down”), from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie”)
Our Father in Heaven’s laws, statutes and ordinances are all align to the 10 Commandments. In other words, the 10 Commandments are the high-level commandments and the other laws, statutes and ordinance provide instruction on how God wants each commandment followed. During Jesus’ ministry he informed us of these two greatest commandments and that the laws guide us on how to do both of these.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” KJV Mat 22:37-40
Jesus was quoting these two laws (two different versions for each):
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and all thy strength. “ LXX Deu 6:5
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” KJV Deu 6:5
“And thy hand shall not avenge thee; and thou shalt not be angry with the children of thy people; and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; I am the Lord.” LXX Lev 19:18
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” KJV Lev 19:18
The table below reflects the 10 Commandments and the number of laws that hang under each of them. Some laws actually fall under two commandments, therefore were counted under both.
The first commandment has the most laws; therefore. the most important since it includes how to worship and love our Father in Heaven, Jesus as stated in the verse from Matthew above.
Laws for All Israel, Farmers and Priests
I categorized all of the laws to show who is responsible for each law, as reflected in the table below. There are only 274 laws that all of Israel must follow day to day. Included in these day-to-day laws are the feast days, of which there are 40 laws. There are 170 laws that all of Israel must follow if the situation arises or if our current laws change so that we can follow these laws. You will notice this table states there are 519 laws and above I stated there are 518 in the spreadsheet – that is correct. I apparently broke one of the laws further in my document below and forgot to update the spreadsheet accordingly. Please forgive this issue since the real point I am trying to get across is that day to day, we do not all have 613 laws to follow.
Below is a further break down of the 274 laws that all Israel should concentrate on following throughout the year. If you remove or combine redundant laws, then there are only 212 laws, meaning there are only 212 laws to concentrate on throughout the year. Within these laws there are 40 holy feast day laws of which if you remove the redundant laws there are only 33 feast day laws.
Below are links to the following documents that show the laws referred in the table above.
· 274 Laws for All of Israel, 212 laws when the redundant laws are removed/combined (link to PDF).
· 170 Laws for All of Israel that only apply if the situation arises, 44 of these laws require changes to our current government laws and 17 of these laws require capital punishment (link to PDF).
· Laws for Farmers only (link to PDF)
· Laws for Priest only (link to PDF).
Conclusion
Year to year, day to day most of us only have to focus on about 212 laws and should be familiar with the 170 additional laws that only apply if the situation arises. If you are a priest and a farmer then you have about 337 laws to focus on and 182 laws that apply when the situation arises. Some of the 182 laws require our government to change the laws to agree with the bible and that should be a focus.
It really is best to read the laws directly from the bible and not these documents to ensure you are not taking the law out of content. Again, this spreadsheet and documents are to show stats, counts and categories.
Feel free to make comments in the comment section below letting me know if you can follow the 212 laws. Many at church think there is too many to follow. Are these 212 laws to hard for you to follow?
Jesus said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” ESV John 14:15
“Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” ESV Hebrews 10:28
“If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” ESV Proverbs 28:9
“You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD. One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.” Numbers 15:16
“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.” ESV Proverbs 28:4-5
Also see:
The Children of Israel & Gentiles must follow the Laws https://kingdomhereamerica.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-children-of-israel-gentiles-must.html
