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Exodus 20:1
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Exodus 20:1 Meaning and Commentary
And God spake all these words
Which follow, commonly called the decalogue, or ten commands; a system or body of laws, selected and adapted to the case and circumstances of the people of Israel; striking at such sins as they were most addicted to, and they were under the greatest temptation of falling into the commission of; to prevent which, the observation of these laws was enjoined them; not but that whatsoever of them is of a moral nature, as for the most part they are, are binding on all mankind, and to be observed both by Jew and Gentile; and are the best and shortest compendium of morality that ever was delivered out, except the abridgment of them by our Lord, ( Matthew 22:36-40 ) , the ancient Jews had a notion, and which Jarchi delivers as his own, that these words were spoken by God in one word; which is not to be understood grammatically; but that those laws are so closely compacted and united together as if they were but one word, and are not to be detached and separated from each other; hence, as the Apostle James says, whosoever offends in one point is guilty of all, ( James 2:10 ) , and if this notion was as early as the first times of the Gospel, one would be tempted to think the Apostle Paul had reference to it, ( Romans 13:9 ) ( Galatians 5:14 ) though indeed he seems to have respect only to the second table of the law; these words were spoke in an authoritative way as commands, requiring not only attention but obedience to them; and they were spoken by God himself in the hearing of all the people of Israel; and were not, as Aben Ezra observes, spoken by a mediator or middle person, for as yet they had not desired one; nor by an angel or angels, as the following words show, though the law is said to be spoken by angels, to be ordained by them, in the hands of a mediator, and given by the disposition of them, which perhaps was afterwards done, see ( Acts 7:53 ) ( Galatians 3:19 ) ( Hebrews 2:2 ) . (See Gill on Acts 7:53). (See Gill on Galatians 3:19). (See Gill on Hebrews 2:2).
saying;
as follows.