Deuteronomy 4:6

Ver. 6. This is your wisdom—in the sight of the nations— See Psalms 2:10. In consequence of this, Herodotus, Diod. Siculus, and other heathen writers, who treat of the Jewish affairs, applaud their wisdom in adhering steadfastly to the institutions of their country, and rejecting all foreign rites; nay, the most ancient legislators have taken from them the greater part of their laws; witness the ancient Attic laws, and those of the twelve tables among the Romans. Hence the famous oracle, "that the Hebrews were the only wise people, because they honoured God, the eternal king, in all purity." The testimony of many Greek Writers, to the same purpose, will be found in Clem. Alex. Strom. I. and Euseb. Prep. Evang. lib. ix. cap. 10. See also Macrob. Saturnal. lib. i. c. 18. It would be a pleasing speculation, and one which would abundantly demonstrate the truth of what Moses advances in the next verses, to trace the original of the most ancient laws, and to shew how the greater part of them was derived from those of Moses. Houbigant very well observes upon this passage, "If, as some pretend, the laws of Moses had been formed upon the model of the neighbouring nations, how could these laws have been appealed to, as something new and unheard of, and worthy the admiration of those nations? It is evidently collected from these words, that if the laws of the nations bore any similitude with those of Moses, they must have copied from him, and not he from them."