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Orders of Discourse and the Function of Obedience in the Hebrew Bible

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What is or what are the underlying ethical rationales in the Hebrew Bible? Throughout the history of the study of Hebrew Bible ethics, scholars have maintained that obedience to divine will is the predominant basis for ethical obligation in the Hebrew Bible. This judgement, however, fails to reckon with orders of moral discourse that separate first-order concerns from second-order reflection. This essay explores this distinction between first- and second-order moral discourse to understand better the function of obedience to divine will and other moral principles in the Hebrew Bible.

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... being the "the most prevalent basis for ethical reasoning." 57 to God's acts. 58 The obedience of the people of Israel to YHWH and his commandments was to be the expected response to the covenant YHWH made with them, since "YHWH's authority that obligates his followers stands behind the Decalogue and the law." ...
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