Moses has summarized the forty years of wilderness wanderings and given instructions from that time. Now he reminds the people of their commitments, as briefly summarized in the Ten Commandments. This is then followed by a series of decrees implied by those commandments.
Deuteronomy 5: 1-5a, The covenant at Horeb
Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.
"The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.)
Although most of his audience was not born when the commandments were given at Sinai/Horeb, the covenant was still intended for this generation, the ones who will enter the promised land.
Deuteronomy 5: 5b-11, I am the only God
And he said: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
The first three of the "Ten Words" describe the Israelite commitment to YHWH as supreme God. YHWH is (essentially) an invisible God who created all things and so He is not be replaced by images, whether attempted images of YHWH or images of other gods.
Those who identify themselves with His Name are to honor that name in their words (and actions.)
Of special importance is YHWH's work in Egypt, calling the Israelites out of slavery and protecting them along the way.
This section is essentially the same as Exodus 20: 2-7.
Deuteronomy 5: 12-15, Keep the Sabbath holy
"Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
This commandment repeats the importance of the special Sabbath Day, a day that sets the people of Israel from others. This commandment is very similar to the commandment given in Exodus 20: 8-11, but also a bit different. The ordering of individuals is slightly different and the motivation for the commandment is different. In the original command given at Sinai, the motivation is because of YHWH's seven Days of Creation. Here the motivation is because YHWH brought them out of Egypt, "with a mighty hand and outstretched arm." In either place, the principle is that keeping the Sabbath "holy" is because the powerful Creator of the universe, their power Savior from Egypt, has chosen them as a special people.
Commentators point out that the phrase "mighty hand and outstretched arm" is an Egyptian phrase, used by the Pharaoh to describe themselves. The Israelites are to remember Who really has that power!
Deuteronomy 5: 16, Honor your parents
This fifth commandment is close to that given in Exodus 20: 12; the phrasing differs slightly. This commandment is "the first commandment with a promise" (Ephesians 6: 1-3.)
Deuteronomy 5: 16-18, Murder, adultery, theft
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
These three commandments are identical with those in Exodus 20: 13-15. Each commandment is simply two Hebrew words, one of which is "Not" (lō.) Less we misinterpret these simple commands, they will be expanded later in this book of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 5: 20, False testimony
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
(This is the same as Exodus 20: 16.)
Don't lie. This is especially serious when it is used to slander others. One might include gossip within the boundaries of this commandment. Later passages of Deuteronomy will elaborate.
Deuteronomy 5: 21, Don't covet
Unlike Exodus 20: 17, the neighbor's wife is now the first on the list and the house is second. Maybe the first part, regarding coveting a neighbor's wife, needed to be stressed after forty years in the wilderness?
Also added in the list of things that one might covet, in preparation for settling down in Canaan, is the neighbor's land.
As many have pointed out, this final commandment is a statement more about one's thoughts than one's actions. It is a summary commandment -- if one does not covet, then one is unlikely to murder, commit adultery or steal -- or do many other similar actions that spring out of the desires of one's heart.
Deuteronomy 5: 22, Two stone tablets
These are the commandments the LORD proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.
The commandments are concluded. Then they are written on two tablets (probably duplicate copies) and given to Moses.
Deuteronomy 5: 23-27, A plea to Moses
When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leading men of your tribes and your elders came to me. And you said, "The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey."
The people plea for Moses to intervene. YHWH (Who created galaxies and stars -- and volcanoes and thunderstorms) is very frightening!
Deuteronomy 5: 28-31, Stay here with Me
The LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said to me, "I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
"Go, tell them to return to their tents. But you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess."
YHWH is pleased with the response of the people. But He invites Moses to stay with Him for a time, as there is more (much more) to discuss.
Deuteronomy 5: 32-33, Walk straight, don't turn aside
So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
The people are reminded -- keep your promise! Don't wander from the path set before you! (Will they follow this command? If you've been with us since Genesis 1, you -- sadly -- know the answer!)
The people are reminded -- keep your promise! Don't wander from the path set before you! (Will they follow this command? If you've been with us since Genesis 1, you -- sadly -- know the answer!)
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