The Ten Commandments, Ex 20: 18-22.

We continue our look at The Ten Commandments with a look at the verses immediately following the Decalogue (Ten Commandments)  Ex 20:18-22 

 

You can find the posts on a few of the Scripture passages that precede The Ten Commandments at the following links:

The observational overview of Ex 19:3-11 can be found HERE
And the in depth look at Ex 19:3-6 can be found HERE.
The in depth look at Ex 19:7-11 can be found HERE.
The concluding thoughts on Ex 19:3-11 can be found HERE. 

 

The posts dealing directly with The Ten Commandments can be found at the following links:

 

The initial overview of Ex 20:1-17 can be found HERE.   

The in-depth look at Ex 20:1 can be found HERE.  

The in-depth look at Ex 20:2-6 can be found HERE.

The in-depth look at Ex 20:7 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:8-11 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:12 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:13-16 can be found HERE. 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:17 can be found HERE. 

The concluding thoughts on Ex 20:1-17 can be found HERE.

 

I do encourage everyone to look at all the prior posts in this series as the preceding context helps us to a deeper understanding of the Ten Commandments.

 

You can hover your pointer over (most) any verse reference to read the corresponding verse(s).  (Scriptural cross-references are THE most important resource!)

 

 

 

After the Ten Commandments

Author: Moses

Date written: 1447 BC-1410 BC

Purpose of the Book of Exodus: 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: In these verses it is Mount Sinai

Main characters: God, Moses and the nation of Israel

Main theme of these verses: The Israelites are afraid after encountering God so closely! ( Ex 20:1-17 ) They want Moses to go back to being the intermediary! Moses tells them that God did this so that they would have the fear of God in them so that they may not sin.

Exodus 20:18-22 (NASB)
¹⁸ All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.
¹⁹ Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die."
²⁰ Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."
²¹ So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.
²² Then the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.

Things emphasized:

• The signs of God's presence (thunder, lightening, trumpet sounds and the smoking mountain.
• The Israelites were afraid.
• God has spoken to the Israelites directly!
• God did this so that they would have the fear of Him so that they may not sin.
• Moses seemed not to be afraid (this is indirectly emphasized)

Thing Repeated:

• God spoke directly to the Israelites.

Things Alike:

• God's presence and His voice are compared to thunder, lightening, a trumpet and a smoking mountain.

Cause and Effect:

• God did this so that they would have the fear of Him so that they may not sin.
• When God came to them directly they became afraid!

Textual Context:

• This happens immediately following the telling of the Ten Commandments.
• God said He would speak to the Israelites directly ( Ex 19:3-11 )and He did!
   
   
   
   We continue next time with an in-depth look at Ex 20:18-19
   
  Bibliography
   
  • Brand, Chad, Charles Draper, Archie England, ed. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
  • God's Word: Today's Bible Translation That Means What It Says Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
  • – Holman Christian Standard Bible Nashville: Holman Bible, 1999. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
  • Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
  • Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary – Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.