3 is, more precisely, God’s demand for Israel’s exclusive worship and allegiance. * Beside me: this commandment is traditionally understood as an outright denial of the existence of other gods except the God of Israel however, in the context of the more general prohibitions in vv. Even so, this collection represents a privileged expression of God’s moral demands on Israel and is here set apart from the others as a direct, unmediated communication of God to the Israelites and the basis of the covenant being concluded on Sinai. None of them is unique in the Old Testament and all of the laws which follow are also from God and equally binding on the Israelites. Why this specific selection of commands should be set apart is not entirely clear. Indeed they represent a mature formulation of a traditional morality. The present form of the commands is a product of a long development, as is clear from the fact that the individual precepts vary considerably in length and from the slightly different formulation of Dt 5:6– 21 (see especially vv. The traditional designation as “ten” is not found here but in 34:28 (and also Dt 4:13 and 10:4), where these precepts are alluded to literally as “the ten words.” That they were originally written on two tablets appears in Ex 32:15– 16 34:28– 29 Dt 4:13 10:2– 4. The Anglican, Greek Orthodox, and Reformed churches count vv. 1– 6 are considered as only one commandment, and v. Traditionally among Catholics and Lutherans vv. * The precise numbering and division of these precepts into “ten commandments” is somewhat uncertain. q In every place where I cause my name to be invoked * I will come to you and bless you.Ģ5But if you make an altar of stone for me, r do not build it of cut stone, for by putting a chisel to it you profane it.Ģ6You shall not ascend to my altar by steps, lest your nakedness be exposed. p 24An altar of earth make for me, and sacrifice upon it your burnt offerings and communion sacrifices, your sheep and your oxen. 22 * The L ORD said to Moses: This is what you will say to the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.Ģ3You shall not make alongside of me gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. o So they took up a position farther awayġ9and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen but do not let God speak to us, or we shall die.”Ģ0Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid, for God has come only to test you and put the fear of him upon you so you do not sin.”Ģ1So the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the dark cloud where God was. 18Now as all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blast of the shofar and the mountain smoking, they became afraid and trembled. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. mġ7You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. iġ6You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. *ġ2 * h Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the L ORD your God is giving you. g That is why the L ORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. f You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates.ġ1For in six days the L ORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them but on the seventh day he rested. * 9Six days you may labor and do all your work,ġ0but the seventh day is a sabbath of the L ORD your God. * e For the L ORD will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.ĨRemember the sabbath day-keep it holy. d For I, the L ORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation * Ħbut showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.ħYou shall not invoke the name of the L ORD, your God, in vain. * 4You shall not make for yourself an idol c or a likeness of anything * in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth ĥyou shall not bow down before them or serve them. * 1Then God spoke all these words:Ģ a I am the L ORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, b out of the house of slavery.ģYou shall not have other gods beside me.
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