Exodus 20:17-26

17 Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.^[a] ^[b]

The People's Reaction

18 All the people witnessed^[c] the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain [surrounded by] smoke. When the people saw [it]^[d] they trembled and stood at a distance.

19 "You speak to us, and we will listen," they said to Moses, "but don't let God speak to us, or we will die."

20 Moses responded to the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will not^[e] sin."

21 And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Moses Receives Additional Laws

22 Then the Lord told Moses, "This is what you are to say to the Israelites: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.

23 You must not make gods of silver to rival Me; you must not make [gods of gold] for yourselves.^[f]

24 "You must make an earthen altar for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats, as well as your cattle. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause My name to be remembered.

25 If you make a stone altar for Me, you must not build it out of cut stones. If you use your chisel on it, you will defile it.

26 You must not go up to My altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.

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Exodus 20:17-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 20

In this chapter we have an account of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; the preface to it, Ex 20:1,2, the ten commandments it consists of, Ex 20:8-17, the circumstances attending it, which caused the people to remove at some distance, Ex 20:18, when they desired of Moses, that he would speak to them and not God, who bid them not fear, since this was for the trial of them; but still they kept at a distance, while Moses drew nigh to God, Ex 20:19-21 who ordered him to caution the children of Israel against idolatry, and directed what sort of an altar he would have made whereon to offer their sacrifices, promising that where his name was recorded he would grant his presence and blessing, Ex 20:22-26.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 6

[a]. Rm 7:7
[b]. Mt 19:18-19; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20; Rm 13:9
[c]. Lit saw
[d]. Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read smoking; the people (or they) were afraid
[e]. Lit that the fear of Him may be in you, and you do not
[f]. Hb obscure