1966, 101–71). First, apodictic or unconditional laws include at least three categories: “(1) unconditional imperatives, such as the Ten Commandments; (2) curses (e.g., Deut. 27:15–26); and (3) participial sentences concerning capital crimes (e.g., Exod. 21:17)” (Selman 2003, 504 [see also Frymer-Kensky 2003, 978]). Second, casuistic or case law is comprised of a protasis (“If …”) and an apodosis (“then …”) (e.g., Lev. 20:10–21). This type is much more common throughout the ancient Near East, as