Theological interpreters frequently retrieve the multiple senses of biblical texts. However, beyond the Reformation’s ambiguous stance on allegory, another crucial aspect of its exegetical heritage remains underexplored: the distinction between history and doctrine. For John Calvin, who applied this distinction in his Mosaic Harmony, his exegesis of narratives allows for engagement with the central figures, while his exegesis of laws tends to be more timeless and universal. A key example is Calvin’s reading of the law on the cities of refuge (Deuteronomy 19), in which he rejects traditional identification and allegorization in favor of a more straightforward moral interpretation. This paper argues that Calvin’s approach had a rationalizing effect on the interpretation of the law, influencing even those who favor theological readings of other passages, such as Gerhard von Rad and many contemporary evangelicals. This raises important questions about the interpretation of Old Testament law in Christian theology.