Exploring the Commandments Part 7-Business Ethics

For the backstory of what this blog series is on and why it has been written, check out part 1 and part 2 of the series. The original list of all 613 commandments in their textual order that I used came from the site Hebrew4Christians. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html> 

God cares about the small stuff, even about how we conduct our business. There are many commandments about how to conduct our business. If something we own causes damage, we are to make restitution. We aren’t to steal, lust after stuff, or lie about stuff we own that isn’t ours. What would it look like if we put these into practice? How would our business world change?

# 6 Commandments Concerning Business Ethics: When I sorted the commandments, I came up with 30 about Business Ethics.

1.    We aren’t to steal and if we do, we need to ‘fess up and pay for it or return it. (Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:11&13b, Exodus 22:1-3)

2.    We are to return lost goods (Deut. 22:1)

3.    If something of ours causes harm to others, we need to make restitution. We need to take the initiative to avoid accidents (Exodus 21:18&28&33, 22:33&6-9&14)

4.    We are to pay our workers (Lev. 19:13c)

5.    We shouldn’t be envious/covet other people’s stuff (Exodus 20:17)

Parsons, John J.. "Taryag Mitzvot 613 Commandments of Torah." Hebrew4Christians. Web. 2004. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html>.

Exploring the Commandments Part 6-Torah

For the backstory of what this blog series is on and why it has been written, check out part 1 and part 2 of the series. The original list of all 613 commandments in their textual order that I used came from the site Hebrew4Christians. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html> 

I found the laws about the Torah to be particularly interesting. We are to study, respect, and not add/take away from the Torah. We are to hang out with Torah-students and elect a Torah-obeyer. When I read the commandments concerning kings, I thought of Solomon-who owned lots of property, got stuff from Egypt, had many wives, and many riches. I can’t help but wonder if he recopied the Torah and then never studied it, for our wisdom king sure missed a lot of commandments. We are to treat the Torah lovingly, not ignore its interpretations/rulings, show respect for Torah teachers, and keep a copy of it. If we actually handwrote the Torah, would we treasure it more?

# 5 Commandments Concerning Torah and Leaders: When I sorted the commandments, I came up with 18 about the Torah and Leaders.

1.    We are to respect the Torah and its teachers, and treat it well (Lev. 19:32, Deut. 6:16, Deut. 28:9)

2.    We are to own the Torah, study it, and teach it (and not ignore its interpretation/ruling) (Deut. 6:7, Deut. 31:19, Deut. 17:11)

3.    We aren’t to add to or subtract from the Torah (Deut. 13:1)

4.    We are to spend time with those who study the Torah (Deut. 10:20)

5.    Our leader should obey the Torah (Deut. 17:15)

6.    Solomon’s Faults: too much property, interact with Egypt, many wives, riches, didn’t write/keep the Torah (Deut. 17:16-18)

Parsons, John J.. "Taryag Mitzvot 613 Commandments of Torah." Hebrew4Christians. Web. 2004. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html>.

  

Exploring the Commandments Part 5-Sabbaths and Feasts

For the backstory of what this blog series is on and why it has been written, check out part 1 and part 2 of the series. The original list of all 613 commandments in their textual order that I used came from the site Hebrew4Christians. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html>

Shabbat (or the Sabbath) is a day of rest. We aren’t to work on the Shabbat or leave home for food (what? Not Sunday restaurant days?). We are to keep the Sabbath holy. I have spent several blog posts exploring the Sabbath, which you can see here and here.

# 3 Commandments Concerning Sabbath/Shabbat : When I sorted the commandments, I came up with 5 about Sabbath.
 
1.    Remember the Sabbath day. Keep it holy. Don’t work. (Exodus 20:8, 23:12, 20:10)
 
2.    Don’t work or get food on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:29)
 

I’m not going into a lot of detail about the feasts of the Lord, not because I don’t think they’re important, but because I am planning on going WAY more in-depth with them in another blog series. In short, there are 7 feasts of the Lord dictated in Scripture: 3 are Pilgrim feasts when people were to travel to the Jerusalem temple. Some feasts were actually fasts and others were special days of rest. 1) Sukkot (Tabernacles), 2) Pesach (Passover), 3) Chag Matzah (Unleavened Bread), 4) Rosh Hashanah (Festival of Trumpets), 5) Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), 6) Unknown Feast (Feast of First Fruits), and 7) Shavu’ot (Pentecost) are the seven feasts. There’s also Purim and Hanukkah, but who’s counting?

# 4 Commandments Concerning the Feasts of the Lord: When I sorted the commandments, I came up with 72 about the Feasts of the Lord. (I plan to go into more depth into all the feasts & fasts at a later date)

1.    In general, we are to rejoice and celebrate during the 3 Pilgrim feasts (Deut. 16:14)
 
2.    Sukkot, Pesach, Chag Matzah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Feast of Weeks
 
3.    Passover was so important that if someone couldn’t celebrate it due to uncleanness, there was a make-up Passover (Numbers 9:11)
 
4.    Feasts such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur (which was actually a fasting day Leviticus 23:27), Sukkot, Chag Matzah, and the Feast of Weeks were to have extra rest days (Leviticus 23:7-8, 23:21, 23:24, 23:32, 23:34-35)
 
5.    Sabbath Year: The land was to have a Sabbath rest every 7 years (Exodus 23:11).  When Israel didn’t obey this command, they were sent into captivity until the land had rested. Debts were to be released (Deut. 15:3)
 
6.    Jubilee Year: every 50 years (as tracked by the govt.-Leviticus 25:8), there was to be a year of Jubilee. This was never practiced.
 

Parsons, John J.. "Taryag Mitzvot 613 Commandments of Torah." Hebrew4Christians. Web. 2004. <http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Taryag/taryag.html>.