The Ten Commandments: A Literary Analysis

Section 1: Paraphrase of Exodus 19-40

Background ● Section 2 ● Section 3 ● Section 4 ● Section 5

Three months after the Israelites have come out of Egypt, they enter the Sinai wilderness. Yahweh speaks to Moses on Mount Sinai, and tells him to proclaim to the Israelites that he wishes to make a covenant between himself and the Israelites: if they do as he commands, they will receive special treatment from him. To this the Israelites agree, and so Moses prepares himself and his people to meet Yahweh and hear the terms of his covenant.

Yahweh physically descends on Mount Sinai, manifested in flame and smoke. After warning the Israelites not to approach the mountain, Yahweh delivers the terms of his covenant. Yahweh then reiterates the condition of exclusive worship, and adds regulations for altar construction and burnt sacrifices. Yahweh then outlines laws for the regulation of slavery, personal grievances, property rights, sundry laws, Sabbath laws, and national feasts.

Yahweh then outlines his pledge for the Israelites. He promises to send a protective angel to guide the Israelites along their journey, aiding them in the destruction of all peoples who did not worship Yahweh. He promises to give the Israelites prosperity and fertility, and reaffirms his promise to drive out the inhabitants of Palestine, and outlines the national boundary of Israel.

The Israelites accept the covenant of Yahweh, and Moses writes down the entirety of the covenant. Moses seals the covenant with a burnt offerings, and reads the covenant again to the Israelites, after which they again affirm their acceptance of it. Then Moses and 70 elders went into the presence of Yahweh, and feasted with him.

Then Yahweh takes Moses and Joshua up to the top of the mountain, into the midst of a cloud, to give Moses stone tablets which are inscribed with the law and commandment. Moses is on the mountain with Yahweh for 40 days and 40 nights. During this time, Yahweh instructs Moses on the construction of a tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, showbread table, a golden lampstand, curtains, boards, veil, altar, and court. Yahweh then sets the priesthood and dictates how the priestly garments should be made and worn. He instructs on the consecration of priests, how sacrifices are to be carried out, and how the priests are to eat the sacrificed meat. Finally, Yahweh promises to dwell within the tabernacle he has described.

Yahweh then instructs Moses on the construction and use of an incense altar, anointing oil, and incense. Yahweh then reveals that he has chosen specific individuals from the Israelites to construct the tabernacle and altars he has described.

Yahweh completes his commune with Moses by reiterating the importance of the Sabbath in his covenant. Any Israelite who does not follow the Sabbath is to be killed or exiled. After saying this, Yahweh gives to Moses two tablets of stone one which were written the testimony of Yahweh by his own hand.

While Moses was communing with Yahweh, the Israelites grew impatient. They ask Aaron for guidance, and he responds by fashioning an image of a calf out of the Egyptian gold. The Israelites worship the calf as they would Yahweh, offering it burnt sacrifices. At this, Yahweh grows angry and plans to kill all the Israelites, and found a new nation from Moses’ progeny. Moses tells Yahweh that the Egyptians will mock him if they learn that the Israelites were released from bondage only to be killed in the desert. He also reminds Yahweh of his covenant with Abraham, and Yahweh changed his mind.

Moses then went down the mountain with the two tablets on which Yahweh had written his testimony, but upon seeing the calf for himself, he grows angry and smashes Yahweh’s tablets on the ground. He grinds up the calf and force-feeds it to the Israelites. But the people are too unruly, so he calls upon those faithful to Yahweh to kill all the other Israelites. The Moses returns to Yahweh and asks forgiveness for the apostasy of the Israelites. Yahweh reaffirms his promise to lead the Israelites with an angel, but promises that any who sin against him will be killed.

Yahweh instructs Moses to leave Mount Sinai and go to the Promised Land, promising to drive its inhabitants out before the Israelites. As the Israelites journey, Moses communes face-to-face with Yahweh in the Tent of Meeting, which was always pitched outside the camp. Moses asks Yahweh to show himself to him, to show the world that he is favored by Yahweh. Yahweh agrees, but only shows Moses his back parts, not his face.

Yahweh instructs Moses to cut two new stone tablets, and Yahweh will write the words that were on the first tablets shattered by Moses. Moses takes the tablets and journeys to the top of Mount Sinai, where Yahweh dictates the terms of a covenant with the Israelites. Moses is with Yahweh on Mount Sinai 40 days and 40 nights, and writes on the tablets the words of the covenant. Then Moses comes down from the mountain, and his face shines brightly. He calls the Israelites to him and repeats the covenant of Yahweh. After this, Moses wears a veil whenever he speaks with the Israelites, only taking it off to commune with Yahweh in the Tent of Meeting.

Moses then gathers the Israelites to him and reemphasizes the importance of the Sabbath. He instructs the Israelites to bring precious goods for the construction of a tabernacle for Yahweh. The Israelite craftsmen construct the tabernacle to Yahweh’s specifications. They also manufacture priestly garments for the use of the priests. After it is completed, Yahweh instructs Moses when and how to put up the tabernacle. After Moses performs as commanded, Yahweh descends into the tabernacle. When Yahweh remains in the tabernacle, the Israelites do not journey.

Purpose of Paraphrase:

My purpose in the inclusion of the above paraphrase is to familiarize the reader with the narrative continuity that is apparent on a literal reading of the source text.