Bible Dictionary

LAW, JUDICIAL

Law & Covenant • Old Testament

Judicial law was the form of divine law governing Israel’s national and civil policy under God as supreme ruler and judge. It regulated the nation’s leaders, courts, punishments, religious loyalty, and public obligations.

Definition

Judicial law was the form of Divine law governing Israel’s national and civil policy under Yahweh as supreme ruler, magistrate, and judge. It regulated public authority, courts, rulers, punishments, religious loyalty, and national obligations.

Biblical Usage

Israel formally acknowledged Yahweh as its sovereign through covenant. Idolatry and blasphemy were treated as high treason against the nation’s Divine ruler. Moses, Joshua, the judges, and later kings exercised authority under this law, while the king was required to rule according to it rather than according to personal whim.

Historical Background

The judicial law was binding on the Jewish nation rather than on other peoples. Israel’s government is described in successive forms: the republic under Moses and the judges, the constitutional monarchy, and the postexilic senatorial arrangement sharing authority with the Roman government.

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

joo-dish'-al: This was the form of Divine law which, under the dominion of God, as the Supreme Magistrate, directed the policy of the Jewish nation, and hence, was binding only on them, not on other peoples. The position of Yahweh, as the Supreme Ruler, was made legally binding by a formal election on the part of the national assembly (Ex 19:3-8); and that there might be no question about the matter, after the death of Moses, Joshua, in accordance with instructions received by his great predecessor in the office of federal judge, in the public assembly caused the contract to be renewed in connection with most solemn exercises (Jos 8:30-35). No legal contract was ever entered into with more formality and with a clearer understanding of the terms by the several parties than was the contract which made it binding on the Hebrews permanently to recognize Yahweh as the Supreme Ruler (Ex 24:3-8). He was to be acknowledged as the Founder of the nation (Ex 20:2); Sovereign, Ruler, and Judge (Ex 20:2-6); and in these capacities was to be the object of love, reverential fear and worship, service, and absolute obedience. Flagrant disregard of their obligations to Him manifested in idolatry or blasphemy was regarded as high treason, and like high treason in all nations and history was punishable by death (Ex 20:3-5,7; 22:20; Le 24:16; De 17:2-5). The will of Yahweh in critical cases was to be ascertained through special means (Nu 9:8; Jud 1:1,2; 20:18,23,28; 1Sa 10:22).The ruling official recognized by the Hebrews as a nation was the chief magistrate, but he stood as Yahweh's vicegerent, and therefore combined various authorities in his person. We must distinguish the functions of the chief magistrate (1) under the republic, (2) under the constitutional monarchy, and (3) under the senatorial oligarchy after the Babylonian captivity. Moses was the first chief magistrate under the republic; after him, Joshua, and the other judges. Under the constitutional monarchy, it was the king whose government was limited, for he was to be elected by the people; must be a native Hebrew; must not keep a large cavalry; must not support a harem; must not multiply riches; must be a defender of the national religion; must be guided by law, not whim; must be gracious and condescending to the people (De 17:15-20). After the Babylonian captivity, the senatorial oligarchy combined ecclesiastical and state authority, later sharing it with the Roman government.See also SANHEDRIN.Frank E. Hirsch

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