Michael LeFebvre, "Collections, Codes, and Torah: The Re-characterization of Israel's Written Law" (Bloomsbury, 2019)
Apr 6, 2024
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Michael LeFebvre, a scholar focusing on biblical law, challenges the consensus on legislative Torah origins in ancient Israel. The podcast explores the shift from Psalm 1 to ancient Eastern law, evolution from custom to written codes, transition in Torah study from descriptive to prescriptive, and the New Testament's view on 'law'.
Challenges prevailing notion that Ezra introduced legislative Torah, proposes an alternative hypothesis.
Contrasts descriptive wisdom laws with prescriptive law codes, exploring ancient legislative frameworks.
Deep dives
The Shift in Focus Towards Torah; A New Perspective
Scholars historically depicted Ezra as the figure who introduced legislative uses of Torah, yet this assumption lacked rigorous testing. Michael LeFevre's book challenges the prevalent notion, proposing an alternative hypothesis. His study, contrary to the consensus, questions the transition of Torah from descriptive to prescriptive, pointing to a need for a re-evaluation of ancient Israel's legislative approach. The work posits a fresh perspective on Torah's depiction as legislative within the context of Jewish history.
Distinguishing Descriptive from Prescriptive Law Codes
Michael LeFevre delves into the distinction between descriptive law collections and prescriptive law codes. He elucidates the evolution of law practices in ancient societies, emphasizing the organic development of customary laws. By contrasting the concepts of descriptive wisdom laws and prescriptive law codes, he sheds light on the ancient approaches to legislative frameworks, challenging modern interpretations.
The Influence of Greek Civilization on Legalistic Interpretations
Michael LeFevre explores the impact of Greek legal concepts on biblical interpretations, particularly in the New Testament era. He proposes that the apostles maintained a more archaic view of law, rooted in descriptive and wisdom-based principles. LeFevre's analysis suggests a shift in understanding the Torah within biblical contexts, highlighting the interplay between ancient Near Eastern customs and Greek legislative influences.
Scholars of biblical law widely hold that ancient Israel did not draft law-texts for legislative purposes. Little attention has yet been given to explaining how and when later Judaism did come to regard Torah as legislative. As a result, the current consensus (that Ezra introduced legislative uses of Torah) is based on assumptions which have been never tested.
Michael LeFebvre earned his PhD at the University of Aberdeen. He’s a presbyterian minister living in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a fellow with the Center for Pastor Theologians.
L. Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus (Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus (IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020). He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu