Topical Bible: The Scriptures are Called The: Book of the Law

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "Book of the Law" is a significant designation for the Scriptures, particularly in the context of the Old Testament. It primarily refers to the collection of laws and commandments given by God to the people of Israel through Moses. This term underscores the authoritative and covenantal nature of these writings, which were central to the religious, moral, and social life of the Israelite community.

Biblical References:

1. Deuteronomy 31:24-26 : "When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: 'Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.'" This passage highlights the completion and preservation of the law as a witness to the covenant between God and Israel.

2. Joshua 1:8 : "This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do." Here, the Book of the Law is presented as essential for guidance and success, emphasizing the importance of continual meditation and adherence.

3. 2 Kings 22:8 : "Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it." This discovery during King Josiah's reign led to significant religious reforms, illustrating the power and influence of the Book of the Law in renewing covenantal faithfulness.

4. Nehemiah 8:1-3 : "All the people gathered as one man in the square before the Water Gate, and they told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men and women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law." This public reading underscores the communal and instructional role of the Book of the Law in the life of the people.

Theological Significance:

The Book of the Law is not merely a legal code but a divine revelation that establishes the covenant relationship between God and His people. It contains commandments, statutes, and ordinances that are meant to guide the Israelites in holiness and righteousness. The law serves as a tutor, pointing to the need for a savior and preparing the way for the coming of Christ, who fulfills the law (Matthew 5:17).

Role in Worship and Society:

The Book of the Law was central to Israelite worship and societal structure. It was read publicly during significant religious festivals and was to be taught diligently to each generation (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). The king was required to write a copy of the law for himself and read it all his life to learn to fear the LORD and follow His commandments (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

Preservation and Transmission:

The meticulous preservation and transmission of the Book of the Law were vital to maintaining the integrity of God's word. Scribes and priests were entrusted with the responsibility of copying and teaching the law, ensuring that it remained a living document that continued to shape the identity and faith of the people of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 8:3
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Two Famous Versions of the Scriptures
... learned scribes who should translate the Book into Greek ... although their Greek Bible
is still called the 'Septuagint'"that is, 'The Scriptures of the ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter vii two famous versions.htm

Was Moses "A Literary Fiction"?
... What book? The inspired Scriptures say it was written here in Exodus 17:14. ... Moses
was called into the immediate presence of God, while the others remained at a ...
/.../iii was moses a literary.htm

The Duty of Searching the Scriptures
... sacred oracles aside, as an antiquated book, fit only ... which make up that volume commonly
called the Bible ... These are emphatically stiled the Scriptures, and, in ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the duty of searching the.htm

A Look into the Hebrew Bible.
... Why the Jews should have called Joshua, Judges, Samuel ... This portion of the Hebrew
Scriptures, containing the four ... in sacredness and value to the book of the Law ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter i a look into.htm

On the Church of the Old Testament, or under the Promise
... the Old Testament," is that which was called out, (by ... law is principally treated
upon in the Scriptures of the ... all things which are written in the book of the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation li on the church.htm

Moses Rightly Called a Divine Legislator, And, Though Inferior to ...
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book I Chapter XXVI."Moses Rightly Called a Divine ...
qualities in Moses, as shown from the Scriptures themselves, we may ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxvi moses rightly called a.htm

The Rules of Tichonius the Donatist Examined.
... give them up altogether), wrote a book which he called the Book of Rules ... troublesome
to collect all the passages in the canonical Scriptures which present ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 30 the rules of tichonius.htm

The Scriptures were in Very Early Times Collected into a Distinct ...
... or volume of the Gospels, and by the apostles the book or volume ... were divided into
two cedes or volumes, one called the "Gospels or Scriptures of the ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/section iii the scriptures were.htm

The Divine Scriptures Compared to a Net.
... Book X. 12. ... are encompassed by the whole texture of the net in the Scriptures, and
are ... things here below, and carry it to what is figuratively called the shore ...
/.../12 the divine scriptures compared.htm

The Scattering of the People
... We have called the Bible the oldest Book in the ... It seems strange, therefore, that
the most ancient copy of the Old Testament Scriptures, written in Hebrew ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter v the scattering of.htm