Exodus 18:1-20:26
“Now Yitro the priest of Midian, Moshe’s father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moshe and for Isra’el his people, how Adonai, had brought Isra’el out of Egypt” (Exodus 18:1).
Excerpt:
The Ten Words
“Yeshua replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Torah and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (Matthew 22:37-40).
According to Yeshua, the Ten Commandments act as the Table of Contents for the instructions of Adonai. Every commandment in the Torah, the prophets, the writings, and even the gospels and letters expound on the ways to love Elohim, our neighbor, and ourselves because “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Torah is the foundation of ‘all Scripture.’
“Then God said all these words…” (Exodus 20:1).
Adonai did not speak in Greek or Latin nor did He write the Ten Commandments on the tablets of stone with Roman numerals. He spoke in Hebrew and with His finger wrote right to left. Had they been ‘numbered,’ each would have been represented by one of the first ten letters of the Hebrew alef-bet, a word picture depicting each command, thus Ten Words.
א Alef – An Ox means ‘first strength.’
“I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the abode of slavery. You are to have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2-3).
Adonai is the only Elohim the Israelites are to honor. He is to be their strength because He brought them out of Egypt with His mighty hand. He is their leader, their deliverer. Adonai desires to be the sole object of their worship; He is a jealous God.
ב Bet – A House means ‘house’ or ‘family.’
“You are to have no other gods before me. You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, or the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai am a jealous God punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my commandments” (Exodus 20:3-6).
When Jacob leaves Laban, Rachel steals her father’s household gods. This type of ‘other god’ worship was as common in the ancient world as it is today. Every world religious system creates images to worship. Some systems require a sacrifice or personal meditation. More often than not, these images, offerings, and worship are done in the home.
The word ‘jealous’ is better rendered ‘zealous’ meaning ‘vigilant in guarding a possession.’ Adonai’s jealousy isn’t bitter or vindictive; it’s compassionate and protective as He hovers over the children of Isra’el after bringing them out of Egypt. He is fully aware of the enemy who tries to steal away their devotion through idolatry.
Adonai will not tolerate sin and he punishes the sins of the parents through the third and fourth generations. The word for ‘sin’ in this verse is ‘iniquity.’ Iniquity is birthed in the heart and sin occurs when one transgresses the line established by Adonai in His Torah (1 John 3:4) Yet, in His justice Adonai displays grace to the thousandth generation of those who love Him by obeying His commandments.
ג Gimel – Camel means ‘lift up’ or ‘pride.’
“You are not to use the name of Adonai your God in vain (lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely) for Adonai will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).
The name of Adonai is not to be lifted up in excessive pride. The priests to whom the name was given did not want it profaned among the nations so the name unfortunately became lost to the people chosen by Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh to know it.
ד Dalet – Door means ‘pathway.’
“Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat for Adonai your God On it, you are not to do any kind of work – not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates of your property. For in six days, Adonai made the heavens and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why Adonai blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for Himself” (Exodus 20:8-11).
The Sabbath is the pathway to enter Adonai’s rest –– rest from physically being creative and working. The seventh-day Sabbath is holy because Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh separated it from all other days. According to the Hebrew Word Picture, Shabbat is a ‘sign’ that His Torah covenant consumes the family home.
Hebrew Word Pictures
Sabbath (Cease) or Shabbat – שבת – shin, bet, tav
– the covenant consumes the house
The first four commandments instruct us how to love God above all other gods, how to worship him without idols, and how to honor His name. Once we understand those commands, the Sabbath becomes the evidence of our understanding. It is also the ‘door’ or dalet to the final six commandments that instruct the people of Adonai how to love their neighbor as themselves.
ה Hey – A Window means ‘reveal’ or ‘behold.’
“Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which Adonai your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).
This is the first commandment with a promise –– long life in the Land which Adonai is giving to His people. Honoring one’s parents simply means to not dishonor them among the people with whom you live.
ו Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
“Do not murder” (Exodus 20:13).
Murder in this instance refers to taking human life.
ז Zayin – A Weapon means ‘divide.’
“Do not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).
Adultery divides the relationship between a husband and wife and cuts off the marriage covenant.
ח Het – A Fence means ‘protect.’
“Do not steal” (Exodus 20:15).
Fences keep people and their property safe within them; fences keep people out who want to steal.
ט Tet – A Snake means ‘to twist.’
“Do not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).
The ‘snake’ is responsible for the first lie by twisting the truth of Adonai’s instruction in the Garden.
י Yod – Closed Hand means ‘a finished work.’
“Do not covet your neighbor’s house, do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17).
Be content with what your work provides and do not desire anything your neighbor has.
“Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yod or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P’rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” (Matthew 5:17-20)
For a complete copy of this Torah portion, the readings from the Prophets, gospels, letters, and study questions, please purchase Open My Eyes: Wonders of Torah.
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