Summary of parashat Mishpatim
Following the revelation at Mount Sinai, God dictated a series of laws to the people of Israel. These included the laws concerning servants; the penalties for murder, kidnapping, assault, and theft; civil penalties for damages; the laws regarding loans; the responsibilities of the "Four Guardians"; and the rules governing the administration of justice in the courts.
Also included are laws warning against the mistreatment of foreigners; the observance of festivals in the different seasons; the laws regarding agricultural offerings that had to be brought to the Temple in Jerusalem; the prohibition against cooking meat with milk; and the precept to pray. In total, the Mishpatim section contains 53 precepts—23 positive (involving actions) and 30 negative (involving prohibitions).
God promises to bring the People of Israel to the Holy Land and warns them not to follow the pagan ways of its current inhabitants.
The Jewish people proclaim: "We will do and listen" to everything God commands us. Leaving Aaron and Hur in charge of the Israelite camp, Moses ascends Mount Sinai and remains there for forty days and forty nights to receive the Torah from God.
