Thread by @RabbiHarvey

I was asked to do a thread on the Ten Commandments, not only those in the Torah, but how they have been misinterpreted by Christians (lately we've seen a rash of Christian Nationalists want their KJV version in schools, YUCK). So here we go! #threadstorytime

There are THREE, count them, THREE decalogues featured in the Torah. Most only know about two, but time for y'all to know about the third because it's just as important, despite the others stealing the focus away!
Exodus 20:1-15
Exodus 34:1-28
Deuteronomy 5:1-18
/2

So, let's start with the fact that 2/3 of these decalogues start with a "prologue" an introduction, so-to-speak. Exodus 20 does not, and goes right into the laws. Read both, and see how the Deuteronomist wished to stand alone and replace the Exodus Decalogue with their own! /3

Now, most of you are familiar with Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, but while Exodus 20 has no prologue, the prologue to Exodus 34 really sets up the stage! Moses goes up, gets the tablets, God comes down in a cloud, and here we go!
LEFT - EX. 34
MIDDLE -DEUT 5
RIGHT - EX. 20
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Now, pay attention, follow the columns. Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 (the two on the right) seem to be on the same page. But the first commandment in the Exodus 34 decalogue is against assimilation and goes into great detail as to what it means to "not have any other gods" /5

Exodus 34, warns the Israelites that if you sit at your neighbor's table, your children will meet, and marry out of the tribe and eventually worship other gods? Arguments for the entirety of Kashrut (Kosher) laws surround this, as in if you can't sit at their table...etc/6

The second commandment, it's Exodus 34 that goes simple, and Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 that go into detail, and they are virtually identical. Those two have created a reason against idolatry. But Exodus 34 just lays down the law. No idols. Don't do it. /7

Commandment #3. Exodus 34 diverges like whoa. The author is speaking about the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was combined with the Pesach/Pascal sacrifice after the fall of the Temple to create the Passover Seder. They were two separate feasts! This is not the Seder! /8

Ah Commandment 3, the most misunderstood commandment in all of the Torah by Christians. This is what happens when you have translation issues and people who have no idea what things mean.This does not mean you can't "curse/swear/cuss" nor does it mean "take God's name in vain" /9

...whatever "name in vain" means, but it doesn't mean you can't say "God Damnit" or whatever. What it means is that oaths were sworn in the Near East, and if you use God's name when making an Oath, you better darn well keep it. Christian purity culture and go kick rocks. /10

What's next? Oh yes, Exodus 20 and Deut 20 can't decide WHY we celebrate the Sabbath (I do a whole thread on this BTW, very cool). Deut says we do the Sabbath to remind us of coming out of Egypt, while Exodus 20 we rest to emulate the deity. Two very different theologies! /11

Meanwhile Exodus 34 feels that a commandment to remember that the first-born of livestock should be sacrificed or...its neck broken. This trumps Shabbat apparently. Awesome. /12

Commandment #5 and Exodus 34 catches up with the Shabbat law, only this is a more secular labor law with no theological reason given. No it's not implied, as you can see from the commandments above, it's easy to say why! Meanwhile Exodus 20 and Deut 5 command that we honor.../13

...our parents. But see that it is not just about being nice! There is a reason. Honoring your parents means "enduring" long in the land, which means procreation and strong families! It's about extending the Israelite tribe to the land. /14

Let's do #6 and #7 together. We know Exodus 20 and Deut 5 well. A reminder that the meaning is not "do not kill" as there's plenty of reasons to kill people per the Torah and other commandments! It is not to murder. And for all you pro-lifers, in Judaism.../15

...life begins at first breath, so this does not apply to fetus or cells in the woman, whether you like it or not.
Now, why would God care about adultery? It's not why you think. There's plenty of complications with marriage and divorce and adultery in the Torah.../16

...and if you think back to the earlier commandments, adultery is idolatry. God is a jealous God that doesn't want you cheating on God with other gods. So, of course God wishes you to emulate the deity in this way. Loyalty to your God and wife. Ya hear that one Trump? /16

Meanwhile, Exodus 24 couldn't care less about those things, and really wants you to focus on the agricultural feasts of the time, such as Shavuot, and the ingathering which was a precursor to Sukkot. Remember, agriculture was VERY important! /17

Speaking of agriculture, Exodus 34 continues with this theme and speaks about the Feast of Passover (again different from the Feast of Unleavened Bread), and involves a sacrifice. Thus the makings of the Pesach sacrifice + Matzot = Passover Seder but not until 5th-8th CE./18

Meanwhile, Exodus 20 and Deut 5 just very blankly say...don't steal y'all, it's not nice. /19

Moving on to Commandment #9, Ex. 34 keeps with the agricultural festivals and sacrifices with bringing the first fruits to God. Meanwhile, the other two speak about courts of law. This doesn't mean don't lie. It means in front of a judge, you cannot bring false testimony. /20

Okay ready for #10? I do an entire teaching on the Ex. 34 because even the sages had no idea what this meant. Eventually they "built a fence around the Torah" and outlawed the mixing of meat and milk altogether just in case! But there is more to this! Want a thread? /21

Meanwhile Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, with slight differences, different perspectives, remind Israelites to enjoy what they have and to not engage in jealousy, despite the fact that their God openly admits to being a jealous god. But, overall, grass isn't greener, etc. /22

Again, there is no Epilogue for Ex. 20 as there was no prologue. The list is just inserted (and it was inserted later after the Golden Calf story), meanwhile Deut 5 knows better and ends the story, and Exodus 34, most likely the first set, has Moses coming down the mountain./22

So let's sum up:
Commonalities:
All versions include the liturgical rubric “God compassionate and gracious,” and all three have the notion that God is “Jealous,” albeit in different literary contexts.
All versions prohibit the worship of other gods
All versions prohibit.../23

the fabrication of idols (and their worship) but with different language.
All versions require Shabbat observance.
All versions include a commandment regarding “coveting,” but in different literary contexts. /24

What is in Ex. 20 and Deut 5 that is not in Ex.34?
5/20 specifically emphasize deliverance from Egypt in the first commandment, whereas 34 speaks of wonders yet to be performed
5/20 include a broader description of what kind of iconic representations are inappropriate.../25

...extending i two images from nature
5/20 include a law about swearing false oaths
5/20 provide justifications for Shabbat observance (albeit, different from one another);
5/20 require honoring of parents
5/20 include prohibitions of standard criminal violations: murder.../26

..., adultery, theft, false testimony. When it comes to their functions there is nothing to distinguish Deuteronomy 5, Exodus 20, and Exodus 34:
They all are documents that symbolize the establishment of a covenant between Yahweh and Israel.
When it comes to their content.../27

...5/20 Decalogues and Exodus 34 Decalogue are quite radically different
The author of Exodus 34 knew of a Decalogue tradition and he had Moses break it when he slammed the stones to the ground in the Golden Calf story.
We never hear the writing on those stones read.../28

..., but we are told repeatedly what is read is exactly what was on the original and is the authentic word of God.
A suggestion: The version Moses smashes on the ground was meant to symbolize the proto-decalogue eventually adapted and adopted by the Deuteronomist./29

Now, here's my question. Why would ANYONE want any of these up in a school?? Which one? Why? Keep them in Synagogues and Churches (with the right meanings) and just tell kids to be kind to one another.
/END