Deuteronomy 5:1-5

The Covenant at Horeb

1 Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: ^[a] Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I declare in your hearing this day. Learn them and observe them carefully.

2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. ^[b]

3 He did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us who are alive here today.

4 The LORD spoke with you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

The Ten Commandments

5 At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said: ¹

Deuteronomy 5:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 5

In this chapter Moses, after a short preface, De 5:1-5, repeats the law of the decalogue, or ten commands, with some little variation, De 5:6-21, and then reminds the Israelites of the terrible manner in which it was delivered to them, De 5:22,23 which put them upon making a request that Moses might be a mediator between God and them, and hear what the Lord had to say, and report it to them; to which they promised obedience, De 5:24-27 and which being agreeable to the Lord was granted, De 5:28-31, and this laid them under a greater obligation to observe the commands of God, and keep them, De 5:32,33.

Cross References

• 1. (Exodus 20:1–17)

Footnotes

• [a] Note that Deuteronomy 5:1 through Deuteronomy 26:19 may be presented as a continuous section of unbroken speech by Moses. In place of multiple levels of nested quotes, this section has been set apart with a double space.
• [b] That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai