The Ten Commandments

Our next Bible study will focus on what are commonly called the Ten Commandments.  They are also called the Decalogue.  I am not however going to look just at the Ten Commandments.  I am also going to look at some of the Scriptures that precede and follow the Ten Commandments.  Why?  Because it helps to understand them in context.  (I know it has helped me as I have undertaken this study)

The sections of Scripture will be as follows:

• Ex 19:3-11
• Ex 20:1-17
• Ex 20:18-22

We will focus on each section listed above as its own entity before tying them together.

Before I begin to study I want to mention a few things.  In the interest of making these Bible studies more educational for the readers of this blog (AND for myself!)  I have reorganized them just a bit.  There is even more focus on cross references.  AND I have enable ref-tagger in my blog which allows any reader to hover their pointer over a Bible verse so that they can read it in the blog!!

I have also switched software from ESword to WORDsearch.  ESword is great...really great!  But I felt compelled to get WORDsearch and I am glad I did.  I purchased the cheaper Thompson bundle and got a LOT of resources in the bundle and then purchased two good word study helps.  (Vine's Dictionary and the oft mentioned AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary)

But I had many of the resources in ESword word!  What compelled me to switch was the desire to dive further into the cross references.  ESword didn't do that very well.  WORDsearch does!  It is SO easy to search for cross references by verse, topic, person, and words.  And it is organized in an easy to follow window so I can really check out ALL of the cross references.  And the main thing when doing Bible study is to allow Scripture to interpret (or teach) Scripture!  I have already noticed an improvement (and increased "fun level") in this study compared to my previous studies.  I hope you do as well.

And now:

Exodus 19:3-11 (NASB)
³ Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:
⁴ 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself.
⁵ ~'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
⁶ and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
⁷ So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him.
⁸ All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.
⁹ The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
¹⁰ The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments;
¹¹ and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Essential Information of the Book of Exodus

Author: Moses
Date written: 1447 BC-1410 BC
Purpose: To tell how how God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Also begins the covenant and the law.
Written: For each new generation of Israel (and the gentiles)
Important places: Egypt, the Wilderness, and in these particular verses it is Mount Sinai
Main characters: God, Moses and the Nation of Israel
Main theme of these verses: God is telling Moses to the tell the Israelites that they should prepare to be spoken to directly by the living God.

First Observations of Ex 19:3-11

Things emphasized:

• That God rescued the Israelites and brought them to Himself
• they will hear God's voice
• God would come down to the mountain to appear to them on the third day from which He was giving Moses these instructions.
• If they obey God's voice and keep His commands they will be a holy nation to God
• The Israelites claim that they will do all that God has spoken.
• The Israelites must consecrate themselves and be clean before God appears to them.

Thing Repeated:

• They will hear God's voice
• God would come to them on the third day.

Cause and Effect:

• If the Israelites obey God's voice and keep His commands they will be a holy nation to Him.
• The Israelites will hear God's voice and will then believe that Moses is indeed speaking what God has told him.

Textual Context:

• In just a few verses there followed the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-17 ) with God speaking those words directly to the Israelites as He had promised He would.
• Also see the verse Ex 20:18-22 which DIRECTLY follow the speaking of the Ten Commandments
   
   
  In my next post I will begin to look at the individual verses, Ex 19:3-11 
   
  Bibliography
   
  • Baker, Warren, ed. – The Complete Word Study Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
  • Brand, Chad, Charles Draper, Archie England, ed. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
  • Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
  • Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.