D11.04.92.htm

CONCERNING THE MOSAIC LAW UNDER
THE OLD COVENANT FOR THE PEOPLE:
"EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH".

"EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH". (Exodus 21:24 Moffatt).
While this law is commonly quoted as the form which retribution should take against those found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to another, it was actually instituted in relation to the following circumstances:

(1) An injury to, or the death of, a pregnant woman and/or her child. (Exodus 21:22-24).

(2) Anyone found guilty of scheming violence against his fellow by making a false charge against him. In such cases, punishment due for the charge was administered to the false witness (i.e. "eye for an eye"). (Deut 19:16-21).

OTHER PHYSICAL PENALTIES UNDER MOSAIC LAW.

(1) The penalty for striking one's father and mother was death without fail.

(2) The penalty for calling down evil on one's father and mother was death without fail.

(3) The killing of a slave or slave girl was avenged without fail.

(4) Jehovah appointed a place to which a slayer could flee after striking
and accidentally killing a man that Jehovah allowed to occur.

(5) One who was injured after being struck with a stone or a fist during a quarrel
was to be compensated by the one who struck him until he fully recovered.

(6) A man who struck and ruined the eye of a slave, male or female,
was to let that slave go free in compensation for his or her eye.

The guiding principle of the Mosaic Law administered against those found guilty was that proportionate compensation was to be paid to the injured party: "Wherever hurt is done, you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound." (See Exodus 21:12-25 NWT & NEB).

In regard to physical injury done to another, the penalties listed were part of the Mosaic Law under the "old covenant" that God commanded to be administered at that time. "Had that first covenant been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second in its place." But Jehovah found fault with the Israelites because they failed to abide by the terms of that covenant. (Heb 8:6-13 NEB). That is why He established a new covenant, one founded on better promises.

In place of the rules and regulations instituted under the "old covenant", Jehovah inaugurated a new covenant by the merits of The Christ's sacrifice. The old laws consisting in decrees were taken out of the way by The Christ's death, enabling the reconciliation of both Jew and Gentile into one "body". (Eph 2:15,16. Col 2:13,14). To illustrate this, when asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Christ Jesus said: "'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, 'You must love your neighbour as yourself.' On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets." (Matt 22:36-40).

11/4/92.