民事律法

The social and judicial regulations given to Israel for governing community life. Found primarily in Exodus 21-23 and Deuteronomy 12-26, these laws address property rights, personal injury, slavery regulations, debt and lending, judicial procedure, warfare, and treatment of foreigners. The lex talionis ('eye for an eye,' Exodus 21:24) established proportional justice. Cities of refuge provided asylum (Numbers 35:9-15). Gleaning laws ensured provision for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10). While these specific laws were given to ancient Israel, their underlying principles of justice, compassion, and human dignity inform Christian ethical thinking and social engagement across all cultures and times.