The ten commandments weren’t the only laws given to the Children of Israel. Deuteronomy 4:13-14, says, “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.”

The Scriptures reveal that in addition to the ten commandments, God also gave the Children of Israel statutes and judgments. 

What was the purpose of God giving Israel statutes and judgments?

The reason that God gave them these additional laws was to provide clarity and specifics to the principles of the ten commandments. In essence, the statutes and judgments were God’s way of showing the people how to keep the ten commandments.

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep, therefore, and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? and what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Deuteronomy 4:5-8

The heathen nations were extremely cruel. God’s design was that God’s government would have rules but would also be fair. God’s people were to have compassion and understanding in such a way that it would attract the surrounding nations. God was always focusing on saving the heathen while still blessing His chosen people.

Statutes and Judgments?

What are Statutes?

Statutes (sometimes called ordinances) were requirements. These were laws relating specifically to the Children of Israel and how they were to conduct themselves as God’s chosen showpiece to the rest of the heathen nations. Statutes also included laws relating to the sanctuary and its ceremonial laws (Leviticus 16:34). They provided parameters of morality concerning marriage vows (Numbers 30:16). They governed which animals were clean and unclean (Leviticus 11). These statutes, among many others, helped govern Israel’s activities and were used to provide specific conduct that was implied by the ten commandments.

What are Judgments?

Judgments were essentially Israel’s legal code. While statutes help explain what was regarded as an offense, judgments provided the process once an offense occurred. For example, we see what happened if someone was a false witness: “If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. Deuteronomy 19:16-19.

The Book of the Law

When we add up the commandments, statutes, and judgments, most scholars have concluded that Israel was given a total of 613 laws. Excluding the ten commandments, these commands were often called the Law of Moses or the Book of the Law. This book contained blessings but it also contained curses for disobedience.

And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. Joshua 8:34

The book of the law was separate from the ten commandments. The ten commandments were God’s principles, written with His own finger (Exodus 31:18); however, the book of the law was the application of God’s commandments written by the hand of Moses (Deuteronomy 31:24).

Now that we have a basic understanding of God’s law, our next study will look at the atonement process when the law was broken.