Understanding Biblical Law: Skills for Thinking with and Through Torah

We tend to be perplexed by the psalmists who express delight in God's laws. We see biblical law as a long list of rules with harsh punishments, and the more we read the biblical law within modern legal frameworks, the stranger it appears. We are too estranged from its world, aims, and concerns to see its beauty and wisdom.

In Understanding Biblical Law, Dru Johnson reorients the reader to see biblical law through ancient Israelite eyes. He deconstructs common myths regarding biblical law and shows how it often differs significantly from both modern law and ancient Near Eastern law. Johnson weaves in an ancient murder mystery between chapters to show how ancient Israelites could have reasoned with and through Torah to solve real-life problems. He then demonstrates how we can do the same by discerning biblical law's literary and historical contexts, appreciating its sophisticated wisdom, and distinguishing it from our modern legal notions.

This book is engaging and accessible for undergrads and laypeople but robust enough for seminarians. Johnson demonstrates a skill-based approach for interpreting Old Testament law and uses examples to encourage readers to practice these skills for themselves.

When we enter the biblical world, we see with the psalmists the beauty and sophistication of Israel's laws and discover a rich resource for thinking about the law's theological implications for Hellenistic Judaism, the New Testament, and readers today.

Table of Contents: How to Read This WEIRD Book

1. Entering an Ancient Legal World Episode 1: Dead Man Walking Part 1: Reorienting to Biblical Law
2. Our Legal Culture Interferes Episode 2: The Roof
3. Myth-Busting the Biblical Law Episode 3: Running From and Through the Law Part 2: Exploring the Genius of Biblical Law
4. Biblical Law Is Strategically Different
5. Biblical Law Includes Just Rituals Episode 4: We Can't Offer Sacrifices
6. Biblical Law Reasons with Us
7. Biblical Law and Narrative Episode 5: The Investigation Part 3: Thinking with Biblical Law
8. Ancient Context Skills for Thinking with Biblical Law
9. Literary Skills for Thinking with Biblical Law Episode 6: The Hearing
10. Theological Skills for Thinking with Biblical Law Episode 7: The Verdict A Brief List of Further Reading Index