Exodus 21:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Now these are the judgments— The subsequent divine laws are delivered in an irregular and interrupted method; most probably, because they were written down by Moses one after another, and delivered by him to the people of Israel just as he received them from Jehovah himself; and perhaps also, because a perfectly methodical manner would have favoured too much of human wisdom. "As to the frequent repetition of them," observe the authors of the Universal History, "the reader will find sufficient occasion for it; since it will appear by the sequel, that neither that, nor the grievous punishments which befel the Israelites almost upon every disobedience, proved effectual to bend their stubborn necks, or cure them of their untractable disposition. Some [of these laws and ordinances] related to the immediate worship of GOD; such as were the building of the tabernacle, with all its grand apparatus of utensils for use and ornament; their sacrifices of all sorts; the consecration of their priests and Levites; the holy oil to anoint them; their habit, office, privileges, revenue, and the like; the festivals, offerings, tythes, vows, purifications, laws concerning clean and unclean things, diseases, meats, &c. some of which are generally looked upon as typical: others, as topical, or confined to that climate; and others as political; but all of them calculated with a wise design of preserving them both in their obedience to GOD, and from all intermixture with other nations; and from adopting any part of their religious worship into their own: all which were delivered at several times, and upon divers exigencies, by GOD to Moses, and by him committed to writing in the same order in which he received them." See the note at the beginning of the last chapter. By judgments here, it is generally thought, are meant such judicial or political laws as respected the civil government, and the rights between man and man. It has been generally believed, that many of the most ancient and wisest lawgivers and states have much availed themselves of the Mosaic system.