When we analyze the structure of the society in which we live, there is one element that stands out in particular with regard to organization and mutual respect among individuals: laws.
It can be stated that a society without laws is chaotic. If we have no rights as individuals, then anything is permitted. This is a recipe for disaster. In our modern nations—where governments are riddled with corruption and judicial systems often operate more through connections and bribes than through the defense of the law—we can clearly see that the social and economic consequences are disastrous.
“White-collar” criminals walk free without repercussions, while people who inadvertently violate unconstitutional laws pay an excessive price.
What Is the Purpose of the Torah?
The primary objective of the Torah is to establish a social structure founded on justice. Contrary to many ultra-spiritualized sermons from both modern and ancient theologians, the purpose of the Torah is to create a framework for human interaction based on a universal standard of justice.
Both the Ten Commandments and the remaining 613 commandments detailed in the Scriptures are intended to guide us into a life of justice and equity. Many of them address interpersonal relationships—how I relate to my neighbor—while others focus on the relationship between the individual and the Creator.
What is striking is that even those commandments that express how we are to connect with and relate to our Creator are also tied to social justice and to how we relate to one another.
There Can Be No Justice in Society Without God
The first four of the Ten Commandments say nothing about how to relate to one’s neighbor; instead, they focus on our relationship with the Creator. Here lies the secret of justice. It is justice because it is ordained by the Creator. In other words, to determine what is just and what is not, we must establish a universal concept of justice. Otherwise, on what basis would the subjective standards of one person or group be considered superior to what another group defines as justice?
For this reason, before dealing with concepts related to justice among individuals, we must first establish who the Creator is and what place He holds in our lives. We must affirm that we can have no other elohim (powers) before Him (the first commandment) and that we must grant Him the honor He deserves as the Creator of the Universe and of all that exists. Once this principle is established, only then can we move forward in understanding what He requires of us regarding our interactions with one another.
The Role of Justice in Ancient Israel
Justice, justice you shall pursue…
Deuteronomy 16:20
This exhortation to the children of Israel is accompanied by commandments to establish complete judicial courts, along with examples and statutes on how justice was to be administered, and warnings against yielding to bribes or personal and subjective interests. Instead, they were to maintain absolute impartiality.
An entire book in the Tanakh is devoted to the judges who led Israel for several generations prior to the establishment of the monarchy. Even after the anointing of kings, we have testimonies of the execution of righteous judgments—most notably from King Solomon, who regarded justice as greater than sacrifices:
To do righteousness and justice
is more pleasing to Yehovah than sacrifice.Proverbs 21:3
“White-collar” criminals walk free without repercussions, while people who inadvertently violate unconstitutional laws pay an excessive price.