BENEDICT DE SPINOZA: Theological-Political Treatise

Theological-Political Treatise
be an enemy, and anyone who died for religion was deemed to have died
for his country; thus, no distinction at all was made between civil law
and religion. For that reason this state could be called a theocracy, since
its citizens were bound by no law but the Law revealed by God. Even
so, the fact of the matter is that all these things were more opinion
than reality. For in reality the Hebrews retained absolutely the right of
government, as will be clear from what I am about to say: it is evident
from the manner and method by which this state was governed, which
I propose to explain here.
[9] The Hebrews did not transfer their right to another person but
rather all gave up their right, equally, as in a democracy, crying with
one voice: ‘We will do whatever God shall say’ (making no mention of an
intermediary). It follows that they all remained perfectly equal as a result
of this agreement. The right to consult God, receive laws, and interpret
them remained equal for all, and all equally without exception retained
the whole administration of the state. This is why, on the ¢rst occasion,
they all equally approached God to hear what he wished to decree. But
in this ¢rst encounter they were so exceedingly terri¢ed and astonished
when they heard God speaking that they thought their ¢nal day had
come. Gripped by terror, they approached Moses again, saying: ‘Behold
we have heard God speaking in the ¢re, and there is no reason why we
should wish to die.This great ¢re will surely consume us. If we must again
hear the voice of God, we shall surely die.You approach therefore, and hear
207 all the words of our God, and you’ (not God) ‘will speak to us. We shall
revere everything God tells you, andwill carry it out’. 7 By proceeding thus,
they plainly abolished the ¢rst covenant and absolutely transferred their
right to consult God and interpret His edicts to Moses. For they did not
promise here, as before, to obey all that God said to them but rather
everything God would say to Moses (see Deuteronomy 5, after the Ten
Commandments, 8 and 18.15^16). Hence, Moses remained the sole maker
and interpreter of the divine laws. He was also therefore the supreme judge
whom no one else could judge and who alone among the Hebrews acted
for God, i.e., he held sovereign majesty. For he alone had the right of consulting
God, of transmitting God’s answers to the people and compelling
them to act on them. Alone, indeed, for if while Moses lived, anyone else
7 Deuteronomy 5.23^7; cf. also Exodus 20.18^21.
8 Deuteronomy 5.23^7.
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