deuteronomy main“...added no more…”

Deuteronomy 5:22, "These words *Yahuweh spoke to all your assembly
at the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud and of the thick gloom,
with a great voice, and He added no more. He wrote them on two tablets of stone
and gave them to me.

The Law of Yahuweh and the
Law of Moses One Law or Two?

Even though the Heavenly Father’s Law is sometimes referred to as the “Law of Moses,” it will be 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 who refuse to believe James and they teach that there were two Laws given to Israel, the Law of *Yahuweh and the Law of Moses. What is generally believed by those who adhere to such an idea is that the Decalogue (i.e., the 10 Commandments) is 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 Tanakh (that is, the so-called “Old Testament”), can adhere to such an idea as there being two different Laws given to Israel. In this article, we will take a look at the two possible reasons why someone might come to such an understanding as to think that Elohim gave one Law to Israel, while Moses gave them another. Those two reasons are:

  1. A misunderstanding of Deuteronomy 5:22, where Moses tells us that after Yahuweh gave the 10 Commandments He “added no more.”
  2. Because the Heavenly Father’s Law is sometimes called the Law of Moses, it is 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. For the benefit of those who may not be familiar with the Tanakh (I.e,, 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 Yahuweh less than 3 months after Israel’s Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 19:1), 40 years earlier. We were first told about this in Exodus chapters 19 and 20. So what we are reading 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:

Deuteronomy 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,
Deuteronomy 1:5, Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law, saying,…

In Deuteronomy 5:6-21, Moses states again the 10 commandments that Yahuweh gave to Israel at Mount Sinai 40 years earlier (Exodus 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 ten were only the beginning of Yahuweh’s Law for Israel.

Moses is not saying that Yahuweh “never” added more to His Law, he is simply saying that “at that point in time” Yahuweh added no more. For we find further on in verse 31, 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.

So we see that after sending Israel back to their tents in verse 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 (Deuteronomy 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 (Exodus 19:18; Deuteronomy 5:23). Israel began to fear for their lives, thinking they would die if they continued to hear the voice of the Living Elohim, Yahuweh (Exodus 20:19; Deuteronomy 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 (Exodus 20:19-21; Deuteronomy 5:23,27).

Deuteronomy 5:27, Go near and hear all that Yahuweh our Elohim says; then speak to us all that Yahuweh our Elohim speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.

Yahuweh saw their fear and heard their words and He was pleased, so He had Moses tell Israel to return to their tents (Deuteronomy 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 (Deuteronomy 5:31).

So we see that after giving the 10 commandments Yahuweh “added no more” because of Israel’s being too frightened to continue to listen any longer, not because the 10 commandments were all there was to the Law. For, as we have read, after Israel returned to their tents, Yahuweh commanded Moses.

Deuteronomy 5:31, '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.'

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 (Acts 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--the only Law that was given to Israel by Yahuweh “through” Moses.

Leviticus 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.
Luke 2:22-24, 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 (as it is written in the Law of Yahuweh, ‘every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Yahuweh’), 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 22 was spoken by the mouth of Yahuweh (Leviticus 12:1-6). And as you can see the Law of Moses IS Yahuweh’s Law.

Yahuweh said to Moses in Exodus 21:1, Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them:

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,” Leviticus 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.

Numbers 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.
Deuteronomy 4:5, “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as Yahuweh my Elohim commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it.
Deuteronomy 31:9, So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Leviticus who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahuweh, and to all the elders of Israel.
Ezra 7:6, This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahuweh the Elohim of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of Yahuweh his Elohim was upon him.
Nehemiah 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.
Nehemiah 8:8, They read from the book, from the law of Elohim, 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.

Deuteronomy 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 Elohim,
Deuteronomy 30:10, if you obey Yahuweh your Elohim to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to Yahuweh your Elohim with all your heart and soul.
Deuteronomy 31:24, It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book until they were complete,
Nehemiah 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 six commanded in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16, and the Sabbath Day, Yahuweh commanded are to be observed “forever” throughout all generations (Exodus 31:16; Leviticus 23:2-3,14,21,31,41; Zechariah 14:16; Isaiah 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 fourth one, the Sabbath Day, which will also endure “forever” (Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:16; Isaiah 66:23-24).

Nehemiah 8:18, He read from the book of the law of Elohim 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.
Nehemiah 9:3, While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of Yahuweh their Elohim for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped Yahuweh their Elohim.
1 Kings 2:3, "Keep the charge of Yahuweh your Elohim, 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."
1 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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.
Isaiah 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 (Psalms 19:7), His law is truth (Psalms 119:142), and it will endure forever (Psalms 119:160; Deuteronomy 5:29; 7:9; 2 Kings 17:37).

Ecclesiastes 12:13, The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear Elohim and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

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 will come to believe the apostle James when he tells us “there is one Lawgiver” (James 4:12), not two. And that One is Yahuweh (Isaiah 33:22)

* The name of the Heavenly Father “Yahuweh” has been taken out of His Book over 6823 times and substituted by the translators (without ANY authority to do so) with the term “the LORD”. For a fuller explanation of how it happened and why, click here.