Exodus 20:13-23

13 Thou shalt not kyll.

14 Thou shalt not breake wedlocke.

15 Thou shalt not steale.

16 Thou shalt bere no false witnesse agest thy neghboure

17 Thou shalt not couet thy neghbours housse: nether shalt couet thy neghbours wife, his maservaunte, his mayde, his oxe, his asse or oughte that is his.

18 And all the people sawe the thunder ad the lyghteninge and the noyse of the horne, ad howe the mountayne smoked. And whe the people sawe it, they remoued ad stode a ferre of

19 ad saide vnto Moses: talke thou with vs and we wil heare: but let not god talke with vs, lest we dye.

20 And Moses sayde vnto the people feare not, for God is come to proue you, and that his feare maye be amonge you that ye synne not.

21 And the people stode aferre of, ad Moses went in to the thicke clowde where God was

22 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moses: thus thou shalt saye vnto the childern of Israel: Ye haue sene how that I haue talked with you from out of heauen.

23 Ye shal not make therfore with me goddes of syluer nor goddes of golde: in no wyse shall ye do it.

Exodus 20:13-23 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.