Chronological Bible Study – Feb 6

What I Noticed Today (Exodus 22-24)

Exodus 22

In Chapter 22, God details for Moses six more categories of laws or statutes that the people must obey:

In verses 1-4, laws concerning theft:

• If a man steals an ox or sheep and butchers or sells it, he must repay for the ox five cattle, and four sheep for the sheep.
• If a thief is caught in the act of breaking in at night and is killed, no one is guilty of bloodshed. However, if the thief breaks in after sunrise, there is guilt for bloodshed.
• A thief must make restitution for whatever was stolen. If he is unable to make restitution, he is to be sold (as a means of repaying the debt).
• If what was stolen is found alive in his presence, he must repay double.

In verses 5-6, laws concerning crop protection:

• If a man allows animals to graze in another’s field, he must repay with the best of his field.
• If a fire gets out of control and damages a crop, the one who started the fire must make full restitution for the loss.

In verses 7-15, laws concerning personal property:

• If a man gives money or goods to a neighbor for safekeeping and the money or goods are stolen, the thief must repay double. If the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before judges to determine if they stole the property. If guilty, they must repay double.

• If a man gives an animal to a neighbor to care for, but the animal is injured, dies, or is stolen, the one must appear before the Lord and take an oath swearing they had not taken the other’s property. If the animal is stolen, he must make restitution, but if the animal is killed by wild animals, no restitution is required.
• If a man borrows an animal from a neighbor and the animal is injured or dies while the owner is present, no restitution is needed. If the owner is not there, restitution must be made.
• If the animal is rented and is injured or dies, no restitution is needed, because the rental price covers its loss.

In verses 16-17, laws concerning seduction:

• If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and has sex with her, he must pay the bride-price for her to be his wife.
• If the father refuses to give her to the man to be his wife, he must still pay the bride-price.

In verses 18-20, laws concerning capital offenses:

• You must not allow a sorceress to live.
• Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.
• Whoever sacrifices to any gods other than the Lord must be put to death.

In verses 21-27, laws concerning protecting the vulnerable:

• You must not exploit a foreigner or oppress him.
• You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.
• If you lend money to My people, you must not charge interest.
• If you take a person’s cloak as collateral for a loan, you must return it to him before nightfall.

In verses 28-31, laws concerning respect for God:

• You must not blaspheme God, nor curse a leader among your people.
• You must not hold back offerings from your harvest or your vats.
• Give Me the firstborn of your sons, and your cattle, and flocks on the eighth day.

• Be my Holy people. Do not eat the meat of a mauled animal; give it to the dogs.

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• God separated the Israelites from the rest of the world to be His people. He entered into a covenant relationship with them, like a marriage, in which both parties promised to be faithful to the other. For the Israelites to worship other gods was like adultery in marriage.
• God provided the Ten Commandments and the other statutes not to provide a path to righteousness and salvation, but to make them realize they lived in sin and must be saved by faith in God alone.

Exodus 23

In Chapter 23, God provides Moses statutes governing justice, the celebration of the Sabbath and annual feasts, and a promise about the conquest of the Promised Land.

In verses 1-9, God provides Moses statutes governing the proper administration of justice that expand the ninth commandment.

• You must not spread a false report.
• You are not to be a malicious witness.
• You must not follow a crowd in doing wrong.
• You must not follow a crowd to pervert justice.
• You must not show favoritism to the poor person in a lawsuit.
• You must not deny justice to a poor person.
• You must not make false accusations.
• You must not kill the innocent.

• You must not take a bribe.
• You must not oppress the foreigner.

In verses 10-19, God provides Moses statutes governing the Sabbath, the Sabbath year, and festivals:

• The land was to be worked for six years but allowed a Sabbath year rest in the seventh year.
• Man was to work for six days but rest on the seventh. The Sabbath rest was for the animals, slaves, and foreigners as well.
• Obey God’s commands and do not invoke the names of other gods.

• You are to celebrate a festival in My honor three times per year: the Festival of Unleavened Bread (March-April), the Festival of Harvest (or First-Fruits, spring), and the Festival of Ingathering (autumn).
• You must not offer the blood of the sacrifice with anything leavened. The fat of the sacrifice must not remain until morning. A young goat must not be boiled in its mother’s milk.

In verses 20-33, God makes promises to Moses if the people obey and gives warnings if they disobey.

• God said He would send an angel to guide the Israelites into the Promised Land. They were to obey the voice of the angel and do not defy him.
• If you carefully obey him, then I (God) will be an enemy to your enemies.
• My angel will go before you and bring you into the Promised Land and wipe out its inhabitants.
• You must not bow down to their gods or imitate their practices. You must destroy their sacred pillars.
• Worship the Lord your God, and He will bless you (provide food, remove illnesses, and multiply your children).
• I (God) will make your enemies turn in terror from you and drive them from you over time as you multiply in numbers.
• You must not make a covenant with them or their gods.
• You must not allow them to remain in your land, or they will make you sin.

Exodus 24

In chapter 24, God confirms His covenant promise with the people of Israel.

In verses 1-11, God confirms His covenant with the people:

• God directed Moses to get Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders and come to worship the Lord.
• Moses alone is to come up the mountain.
• Moses told the people all the Lord’s words, and the people answered they would do everything the Lord had commanded.
• The next morning Moses set up an altar with twelve pillars (one for each tribe) at the base of the mountain.
• The young men made fellowship offerings on the altar to the Lord.
• Then Moses read to the people all the words of the Lord he had written down (called the “Book of the Covenant”), and again the people confirmed they would do everything the Lord commanded.
• Moses then sprinkled the blood from the sacrifices on the altar and the people, saying this is the blood of the covenant the Lord has made with you.
• Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and the elders went up the mountain of God and saw God. God did not harm them. They ate and drank.
• Then God called Moses to come further up the mountain so He could give Moses the stone tablets of the Law.
• So Moses and his assistant (Joshua) went up the mountain, leaving the rest behind.
• Moses told them to wait for him, and if any disputes come up, they should bring them to Aaron and Hur.
• Moses went further up the mountain, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, covering it for six days.
• On the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses. Moses entered the cloud and remained on the mountain 40 days and nights.
• To the Israelites below, the Lord’s glory looked like a consuming fire.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Day 38 Exodus 25-27