Here are the statutes and judgments which Moses spake in your ears this day. Moses continues rehashing the covenant the chosen people have with God. He reminds them that he alone went up the mountain because they were afraid of God in the form of fire. It's awfully convenient that Moses is always alone when he talks to God - up on a mountain or some other hidden location. This chapter also points out that no one actually saw God; they just heard his voice. Pretty clever there, Moses.
Now you might think we've more than covered the graven image commandment already. You would be wrong. Do not make the likeness of any living thing. Do not bow down to it. Do not serve it. For God is a jealous God. I don't know what else to say about this. It's ridiculous.
Don't take God's name in vain. Keep the Sabbath holy: thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. Do you know anyone who does this each Sunday? If it's the top 10 list of most important rules, why does almost no one observe it?
Let's see. Honor your father and mother. Don't kill. Don't commit adultery. Don't steal. Don't bear false witness. Don't covet your neighbor's wife, house, field, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass, or anything that is thy neighbor's. When I learned these commandments as a kid, I don't recall anyone mentioning the neighbor's wife is property, on the same level of the ox and ass. Anyway, coveting is very bad. Don't do it.
If the chosen people fear God and keep these super important commandments, it might be well with them and with their children forever! Keep these commandments and love God with all your heart, soul and might, for he brought you out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Versions of the Ten Commandments we've already covered:
Version 1
Version 2
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