משפטים

At the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses taught the people a set of rules called Mishpatim, meaning “laws,” to guide daily life. He began with servants: a Hebrew slave would serve six years and go free in the seventh without payment. If he came with a wife, she left with him; but if the master had given him a wife and children, they stayed unless the man chose to remain, and then his ear was pierced at the doorpost.

Moses also spoke about protecting life and making things right. If someone killed on purpose, it was treated as a grave crime; if it happened by accident, God would provide a place to flee. People who caused injury had to pay for healing and lost time. There were rules about dangerous oxen, uncovered pits, theft, and paying back what was damaged. God commanded the Israelites not to mistreat strangers, widows, or orphans, and not to charge interest to the poor. They were to rest on the seventh day, let the land rest in the seventh year, and celebrate three yearly festivals: Unleavened Bread, Harvest, and Ingathering.

God promised, “I am sending an angel before you,” to guard Israel on the way and bring them to a prepared place. Moses warned the people to listen and not to bow to the gods of the land. They were to tear down idols and smash pillars. God said the nations would be driven out little by little, so the land would not become empty and wild animals multiply.

Then Moses was told to come up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders, while the people stayed below. Moses repeated all God’s commands, and everyone answered together, “All that God has commanded we will do!” He wrote the words down, built an altar with twelve pillars for the tribes, and offered burnt offerings and well-being offerings. He read the covenant aloud, and the people promised again. Moses dashed blood on the altar and on the people, calling it the blood of the covenant.

Moses and the leaders went up and saw the God of Israel, with something like sapphire pavement beneath His feet. Afterward Moses climbed higher with Joshua. A cloud covered the mountain; on the seventh day Moses was called into it. The Presence of God looked like a consuming fire, and Moses remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.