5
(A:4, S:3) 1 Moses [Drawn out] called to all Israel [God prevails], and said to them, “Sh'ma ·Hear obey·, Israel [God prevails], the statutes and the judgments which I speak in your ears today, that you may learn them, and observe to do them.” 2 Yahweh Eloheikhem [Yahweh our God] made a covenant with us in Horeb [Desert]. 3 Adonai didn’t make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive today. 4 Adonai spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, 5 (I stood between Adonai and you at that time, to show you Adonai’s word; for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn’t go up onto the mountain) saying,
6 * “I am Yahweh [He sustains breathing] your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery], out of the house of bondage.
7 †
“You shall have no other deities before me.
8 ‡ “You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 9 § You shall not hawa ·bow low, prostrate· yourself down to them, * nor abad ·serve· them; for I, Yahweh [He sustains breathing], your God, am El Kana' [Jealous God], visiting the depravity (moral evil) of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me; 10 and showing chesed ·loving-kindness· to thousands of those who 'ahav ·affectionately love· me and keep my mitzvot ·instructions·.
11 †
“You shall not use את the name of Adonai your God worthlessly: for Adonai את will not hold him guiltless who takes את his name in vain.
12 ‡
“Observe the Shabath ·Intermission· day, to keep it holy, as Adonai your God enjoined you. 13 You shall labor six days, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Shabath ·Intermission· to Adonai your God, in which you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery], and Adonai your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Adonai your God enjoined you to keep the Shabath ·Intermission· day.
16 §
“Honor your father and your mother, * as Adonai your God enjoined you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land † which Adonai your God gives you.
17 ‡
“You shall not murder. §
18 *
“You shall not commit adultery. †
19 ‡
“You shall not steal. § *
20 † “You shall not give false witness ‡ against your neighbor.
21 §
*
“You shall not covet † your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your wrote neighbor’s.”
(A:5, S:4) 22 Adonai spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me. 23 When you sh'ma ·heard obeyed· the voice out of the middle of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 24 and you said, “Behold, Yahweh Eloheikhem [Yahweh our God] has shown us his kavod ·weighty glory· and his greatness, and we have sh'ma ·heard obeyed· his voice out of the middle of the fire. We have seen today that God does speak with man, and he lives. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we sh'ma ·hear obey· Yahweh Eloheikhem [Yahweh our God]’s voice any more, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has sh'ma ·heard obeyed· the voice of the Elohim Chayim [Living God] speaking out of the middle of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near, and sh'ma ·hear obey· all that Yahweh Eloheikhem [Yahweh our God] shall say, and tell us all that Yahweh Eloheikhem [Yahweh our God] tells you; and we will sh'ma ·hear obey· it, and do it.”
28 Adonai sh'ma ·heard obeyed· the voice of your words, when you spoke to me; and Adonai said to me, “I have sh'ma ·heard obeyed· the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my mitzvot ·instructions· always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!
30 “Go tell them, ‘Teshuvah ·Completely return· to your tents.’ 31 But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the mitzvot ·instructions·, and the statutes, and the judgments, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.”
32 You shall observe to do therefore as Adonai your God has enjoined you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way which Adonai your God has enjoined you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.
* 5:6 . Deut 5:6; Ex 20:2 (#1.1): T. I am Adonai your God / R. To know there is a God † 5:7 . Deut 5:7; Ex 20:3 (Deut 5:6-7) (#2a.60): T. Not to recognize, bow down to, nor serve the deities of others in My Presence / R. Not to entertain the thought that there is any god but Adonai R. Note: Jewish culture on karet ·to cut off·. Karet is God’s prerogative to be used in special cases only. This applies the capitol punishment (karet ·to be cut off·) to all generations alive at the time of the crime. This punishment is not a curse on the family, but it does put a close on the family linage (see D. Freedman, The Nine Commandments, p106-107) ‡ 5:8 . Deut 5:8-10; Ex 20:4 (Ex 20:3-6) (#2a.61): Not to make a graven image nor to have one made for yourself by another § 5:9 . Deut 5:9; Ex 20:5 (Ex 20:5-6; Deut 5:8-10) (#2b.92): T. Not to bow down to an object of idolatry, even if that is its normal way of worship / R. Not to worship idols in the four ways we worship God, which are: 1. Ritually slaying a sacrifice 2. Burning a ritual substance on an altar 3. Pouring a libation ·of wine· 4. Prostrating oneself * 5:9 . Deut 5:9; Ex 20:5 (#2b.93): T. Not to worship or serve carved images / R. Not to worship an object of idolatry in its normal ways of worship / Consider: Serving other deities is an act of disloyalty and infidelity, one that God considers like adultery and treats with marital jealousy † 5:11 . Deut 5:11; Ex 20:7 (Ex 20:5-7) (#3.189): T. Not to blaspheme God / R. We are warned against blasphemy and the penalty is death T. Example: Blasphemy: idolaters, manifesting disrespect towards God, and insulting His chosen leaders Note: Hebrew Language: Nakav ·blaspheme· not only signifies to curse, or blaspheme, but also to express, or distinguish by name, to invoke a name R. Example: Blasphemy goes beyond pronouncing the divine name, especially in an inappropriate context (Sanhedrin 7:5) R. Example: Judaism views blasphemy as: using God’s name when swearing, using God’s name to call as a witness for truth when lying, or by joining God’s name to inappropriate or unacceptable actions or objects (The Nine Commands, Freedman, p47-49) Note: This name, the Tetragrammaton ·four letters·, is sacred and, with one exception, is never pronounced. When the Temple stood, on Yom Kippur ·Day of Atonement·, the Cohen Gadol ·High Priest· would pronounce the Name in a sacred ceremony Consider: The Greek word Tetragrammaton is not used in the Bible, but the Hebrew name it represents, YHVH or Yahweh, is used 5,410 total times in the Old Covenant. Total times in Torah 1,419 (Genesis 153 times, Exodus 364, Leviticus 285, Numbers 387, Deuteronomy 230); Total times in Prophets 2,696; Total times in Writings 1,295 R. Note: In Judaism there are multiple sacred and specific names for God, these names are designated by how many letters each name has. These names are sacred and should not be used lightly. Yah 3, Ha-Shem [The Name] which refers to YHVH 4, Shem ha-Meforash [Name The Distinguished] 12, Shem ha-Meyuḥad [Name The Extraordinary] 42, Shem Vayisa Vayet 72; word for word translation of the 72 is Shem [Name] Vayisa [Raised] Vayet [Stretched out / Turned]. Remember to always show respect when using God’s names ‡ 5:12 . Deut 5:12; Ex 20:8 (Gen 2:1-3; Ex 20:8-11) (#4.280): T. To set apart the seventh day, Sabbath day, and keep it holy / R. To sanctify the day with Kiddush ·Sanctification· and Havdallah ·Separation·; these are the rituals and prayers associated with bringing in Sabbath Friday night (7th day) and closing Sabbath Saturday evening (1st day) T. Reason: Sabbath is a remembrance that God rested from all his works and blessed the seventh day (Gen 2:1-3). R. Quoting, Rabbi Shimon ben Menasia said “The Sabbath was handed to you, not you to the Sabbath”. Rabbi Yeshua says “Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27) R. Directive: You are not to harvest on Sabbath according to (Ex 34:21). The Rabbis define what constitutes harvesting as: picking grain, removing the husks, rubbing the heads, cleaning or bruising the ears, throwing the ears up in the hand § 5:16 . Deut 5:16; Ex 20:12 (#5.359): T. To honor your father and mother / R. To respect your father and mother T. Note: In Hebrew, the prime root word kavad ·honor, heavy· is used in (Ex 20:12) to describe honoring one’s parents. T. Note: The Hebrew word kavod ·glory, riches, abundance, weight· used to describe the glory of God as in (Ex 33:18, 33:22). The root word of kavod is the prime root word kavad ·honor, heavy·. (See D. Freedman, The Nine Commandments, p76) * 5:16 . Quoted in Matt 15:4, 19:19; Mark 7:10 † 5:16 . Quoted in Mark 7:10; Eph 6:2-3 ‡ 5:17 . Deut 5:17; Ex 20:13 (#6.380): T. Not to murder / T. Not to commit homicide (alternative phrasing) / R. Not to kill an innocent person T. Note: Murder is defined in (Num 35:16-21) as being premeditated with intent or hatred towards another, then taking action against said person causing their death § 5:17 . Quoted in Matt 5:21 * 5:18 . Deut 5:18; Ex 20:14 [Heb Bible Deut 5:18; Ex 20:13] (#7.433): T. Not to commit adultery / R. This command is not included in Rambam’s 613 list R. Note: This command is not listed in the Rambam 613 list nor on the Messer 613 list Consider: This is only a speculation, maybe this was not listed because Rambam thought it was encompassed by the command of not coveting, Command 10 (Ex 20:17) / Consider: This is only a speculation, maybe this was not listed because Rambam thought the command of (Lev 18:6 OU437) or (Lev 18:19 OU456) and the whole of (Lev ch 18) encompassed this singular command † 5:18 . Quoted in Matt 5:27; Rom 2:22; James 2:11 ‡ 5:19 . Deut 5:19; Ex 20:15 [Heb Bible Deut 5:19; Ex 20:13] (Ex 21:16) (#8.486): T. Not to steal / R. Not to kidnap any person of Israel. (This command is implied here, but derived from (Ex 21:16)) R. Note: The Rabbis clarify this refers to theft of a person § 5:19 . Quoted in Rom 2:21 * 5:19 . (17-19) Quoted in Rom 13:9 † 5:20 . Deut 5:20; Ex 20:16 [Heb Bible Deut 5:20; Ex 20:14] (#9.546): Not to testify falsely against your neighbor ‡ 5:20 . Quoted in Matt 19:18-19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20 § 5:21 . Deut 5:21; Ex 20:17 [Heb Bible Deut 5:18; Ex 20:14] (#10.578): T. Not to covet / R. Not to covet and scheme to acquire another’s possession Consider: (Ex 20) orders the list as “house, wife, servant” whereas (Deut 5) orders the list “wife, house, field, servant”. * 5:21 . Deut 5:21; Ex 20:17 [Heb Bible Deut 5:18; Ex 20:14] (#10.579): T. Not to covet kol ·anything, everything, the whole· that belongs to your neighbor / R. Not to desire another’s possession T. Note: The Hebrew word kol means ·anything, everything, the whole· / T. Note: Exodus uses the word “covet” whereas Deuteronomy used “desire” and “covet” † 5:21 . Quoted in Rom 7:7, 13:9