After the 10 Commandments God “added no more” Deut 5:22
(The Law of Yahuweh and the Law of Moses)
Even though the heavenly Father’s Law is sometimes referred to as the Law of Moses it will shown in this article that the only Law ever given in the Scriptures is the Law that was given by the author of the Bible itself, the heavenly Father Yahuweh. As the apostle James tells us, “there is only one Lawgiver” - not two (James 4:12).
But there are those, as few as they may be, who refuse to believe James in that there is one Lawgiver, and they teach that there were two Laws given to Israel, the Law of *Yahuweh and the Law of Moses. And what’s generally believed by those who adhere to such an idea is that the Decalogue, that is the 10 commandments, are the Law of Yahuweh, and all, or most, of the other commandments they say were given by Moses.
I personally find it hard to imagine how someone with even a rudimentary understanding of the Tanak, that is the so-called Old Testament, can adhere to such an idea as there being two different Laws given to Israel, but there are those who do. So in this article we’ll take a look at the 2 possible reasons that I can think of as to why someone might come to such an understanding as to think that God gave one His Law to Israel, while Moses gave them another law. Those 2 reasons, which we’ll take a look at now, are the following:
1) a misunderstanding of Deuteronomy 5:22, where Moses tells us that after Yahuweh gave the 10 Commandments and He “added no more”.
2) because the heavenly Father Law is sometimes called the Law of Moses it’s thought that there were two laws, rather than one.
Deuteronomy 5:22 “He added no more”
We’ll begin by taking a look at Deuteronomy 5:22 in context. But for the benefit of those that might not be familiar with the Tanak, the “Old Testament“, allow me to explain a few facts first.
In the Book of Deuteronomy Moses is speaking of the Law that was given to him by God less than 3 months after Israel’s exodus from Egypt (Exo 19:1), 40 years earlier. Which we were first told about in Exodus chapters 19 and 20. So what we’re about to read in Deuteronomy chapter 5 is Moses “retelling” the story of what happened that day, 40 years prior, when Yahuweh spoke to the nation of Israel from Mount Sinai (Deut 1:3,5).
In Deuteronomy 5:6-21, Moses states again the 10 commandments that Yahuweh gave to Israel at Mount Sinai 40 years earlier (Exo 20:1-17). And in verse 22 Moses tells us that Yahuweh “added no more“. Was Moses implying that these 10 commandments were all of the Law that Yahuweh gave to Israel? No, of course not, these 10 were only the beginning of Yahuweh’s Law for Israel.
Moses is not saying that Yahuweh ‘never’ added more to His Law, he’s simply saying that “at that point in time” Yahuweh added no more. For we find further on in verse 31, that after telling Moses to have Israel return to their tents (vs. 30), Yahuweh said to Moses, “But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess.“ (vs. 31). And Moses did exactly that. Before Israel crossed the Jordon into the Promised Land, Moses began to expound unto Israel all the commandments, statutes and ordinances that Yahuweh had commanded.
Deut 1:3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that Yahuweh had commanded him to give to them,
Deut 1:5 Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law, saying,…
So we see that after sending Israel back to their tents (vs. 30) Yahuweh continued to reveal more of His Law to Moses, and in turn he was to give it to Israel (vs. 31). But we haven’t answered the question yet as to why Yahuweh, after giving the 10 Commandments (vs. 21), “added no more” (vs. 22). Well the fact is it wasn‘t Yahuweh that stopped giving the Law, rather it was Israel, because of their being frightened, that stopped listening.
You see Israel was standing at the foot of a mountain that burned with fire to the very heart of heaven, and in thick darkness, cloud and gloom (Deut 4:11), as the mountain quaked violently, they heard the voice of the Almighty coming from the mountain, as He gave them the 10 commandments (Exo 19:18; Deut 5:23). Israel began to fear for their lives, thinking they would die if they continued to hear the voice of the Living God, Yahuweh (Exo 20:19; Deut 5:25). So they sent the heads of all their tribes to Moses asking that he, Moses, would stand alone before Yahuweh to hear the rest of the Law (Exo 20:19-21; Deut 5:23,27).
Deut 5:27 “You go near and hear all that Yahuweh our God says; then speak to us all that Yahuweh our God speaks to you, and we will hear and obey.”
Yahuweh seen their fear and heard their words and He was pleased, so He had Moses tell Israel to return to their tents (Deut 5:28-31). But as for Moses, he was told to stand there before Yahuweh so that he might hear “all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments” which he was to teach Israel (Deut 5:31).
So we see that after giving the 10 commandments Yahuweh “added no more” because of Israel’s being to frightened to continue to listen any longer, not because the 10 commandments were all there was to the Law. For as we’ve seen after Israel returned to their tents, Yahuweh commanded Moses,
'But as for you, stand here by Me, that I may speak to you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I give them to possess.' Deut 5:31
Not only the 10 but all of the “commandments, statutes and the judgments” Yahuweh gave to Israel “through” Moses. Thus at times they’re referred to as Moses’ Law. It was Moses that received the “Living Oracles” in order to pass them on to Israel (Act 7:38). .The Law of Yahuweh and the Law of Moses
Because Yahuweh gave His Law to Israel “through” Moses the Law is sometimes referred to as Moses’ Law. But as all of the following passages will show the Law of Yahuweh and the Law of Moses are one and the same Law, the only Law that was given to Israel by Yahuweh “through“ Moses.
Lev 26:46 These are the statutes and ordinances and laws which Yahuweh established between Himself and the sons of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai.
Luk 2:22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to Yahuweh
Luk 2:23 (as it is written in the Law of Yahuweh, "every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Yahuweh”),
Luk 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of Yahuweh, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.“
The “Law of Moses” in verse 2 was spoken by the mouth of Yahuweh (Lev 12:1-6). And as you can see the Law of Moses IS Yahuweh’s Law.
Yahuweh said to Moses, "Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them: Exo 21:1
Again, Yahuweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them,……. these are the commandments which Yahuweh commanded Moses for the sons of Israel at Mount Sinai - Lev 27:1-2, 34.
In Leviticus chapter 27, as with just about every passage we’ll be taking a look at, are discussing various laws given to Israel ‘other’ than the 10 commandments. And they were all commanded by Yahuweh ‘through’ Moses to Israel.
Num 31:21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to battle, "This is the statute of the law which Yahuweh has commanded Moses.
Deut 4:5 "See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as Yahuweh my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it.
Deut 31:9 So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahuweh, and to all the elders of Israel
Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahuweh the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of Yahuweh his God was upon him.
Neh 8:1 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which Yahuweh had given to Israel.
Neh 8:8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.
The “Book” that Nehemiah is referring to is the ‘Book of Law”, not just the 10 commandments but all of the Law given to Moses.
Deut 28:58 "If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, Yahuweh your God,
Deut 30:10 if you obey Yahuweh your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to Yahuiweh your God with all your heart and soul.
Deut 31:24 It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete,
Neh 8:14 They found written in the law how Yahuweh had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.
This of course is referring to Sukkoth, also called Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles. This feast day along with the other 6 commanded in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16, and the Sabbath Day, Yahuweh commanded are to be observed “forever” throughout all generations (Exo 31:16; Lev 23:2-3,14,21,31,41; Zech 14:16; Isa 66:23-24). It is sad how Christianity, who although they reject all the commandments of Yahuweh say they still recognize the original 10 commandments, and yet they refuse to obey the 4th one, the Sabbath Day, which will also endure “forever” (Exo 20:8-11; Exo 31:16; Isa 66:23-24).
Neh 8:18 He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.
Neh 9:3 While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of Yahuweh their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped Yahuweh their God.
1 Kings 2:3 "Keep the charge of Yahuweh your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,
These were Yahuweh’s ways, His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, His testimonies, all of which were written in the Law of Moses.
2 Kings 14:6 But the sons of the slayers he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses, as Yahuweh commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin."
1Ch 22:13 "Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which Yahuweh commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.
2 Chron 25:4 However, he did not put their children to death, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which Yahuweh commanded, saying, "Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, nor sons be put to death for fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin."
2 Chron 34:14 When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of Yahuweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahuweh given by Moses.
Isa 33:22 For Yahuweh is our judge, Yahuweh is our lawgiver, Yahuweh is our king; He will save us--
The law of Yahuweh is perfect (Psa 19:7), His law is truth (Psa 119:142), and it will endure forever (Psa 119:160; Deut 5:29; 7:9; 2Ki 17:37).
Ecc 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
In Summary
All the Law was given by Yahuweh “through” Moses. Moses gave no laws of his own. Therefore the Law of Moses and the Law of Yahuweh are one and the same law.
If you would agree with all the passages mentioned above, then you’ll come to believe the apostle James when he tells us “there is one Lawgiver” (James 4:12), not two. And that One is Yahuweh (Isa 33:22)
Shalom Reuven
* the name of the heavenly Father “Yahuweh” has been taken out of His Book over 6823 times and substituted by the translators, who had no authority to do so, with the term “the LORD”. For a fuller explanation of how it happened and why see "Yahuweh, this is My name FOREVER, throughout ALL generations" (Ex 3:15)
* In another article I’ll explain “Why the 10 Commandments were put in the Ark while the rest of the Law keep outside the Ark?” The explanation is rather a simple one. When Israel came out of Egypt it was a young nation, and for the priest to make decisions on first, what commandments were given in the Law, and then what the “judgment” would be if and when someone were to transgress any given commandment, they would have to either
1) “memorize” all the commandments, statues, and judgments (or ordinances) OR
2) they would have had to “look in the Book“.
So unlike the 10 commandments which could have been memorized in a matter of hours, the other 613 laws, statutes and ordinances (or judgments) would have had to of been referenced on occasion by the priest and they would have had to ‘look in the book’, which was kept outside the Ark. Of course an additional reason for preserving the two tablets of stone inside the Ark was the fact that the Almighty Yahuweh Himself wrote upon them the initial 10 commandments, where as for the rest of His Law He dictated to Moses, who then wrote them in the Book. But all of the Law came out of the mouth of Yahuweh. I’ll explain in more detail when I get the article written.
* the Law of the Messiah (or Christ) - Despite the fact that the Savior tells us that “not one jot or tittle will pass from the Law until heaven and earth pass away” (Matt 5:17-19), and Paul tells us that “we establish the Law through faith” (Rom 3:31), and we will judged according to the Law (Rom 2:6-13), there are those that believe the Messiah came to ‘do away’ with his Father’s Law and start his own. I will be making a separate article explain how that’s not possible for the Savior to have done such a thing, that is either do away with His Father’s Law, or start His own Law. But until I do I believe you’ll see how that can not be the case by reading the following articles Matt 5:17-19 along with the "Hard sayings of Paul - 2 Pet 3:16" especially Part 2.
The Messiah came to do away with “sin”, not the Law. Sin is a violation of God’s Law. If Yahoshua did away with the Law, he would have also did away with sin (Rom 5:13-; 7:7-8).