10 Commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy

Two responses from ChatGPT on 1/28/2025.

Prompt 1 – Cite the different decalogues in Exodus and Deuteronomy using the ASV.

The Decalogues, commonly referred to as the Ten Commandments, are found in two main passages in the Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Here they are as cited in the American Standard Version (ASV):

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Exodus 20:1–17 (ASV)

1. And God spake all these words, saying,
2. I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,
6. and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
7. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
10. but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11. for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
13. Thou shalt not kill.
14. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15. Thou shalt not steal.
16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.

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Deuteronomy 5:6–21 (ASV)

6. I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
7. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
8. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
9. thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me;
10. and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
11. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain: for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
12. Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Jehovah thy God commanded thee.
13. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
14. but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou.
15. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
16. Honor thy father and thy mother, as Jehovah thy God commanded thee; that thy days may be long, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
17. Thou shalt not kill.
18. Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
19. Neither shalt thou steal.
20. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
21. Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor’s wife; neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor’s house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbor’s.

Both passages convey the same commandments but with slight variations in wording, particularly in the Sabbath commandment. Deuteronomy emphasizes Israel’s deliverance from Egypt as the reason for Sabbath observance, whereas Exodus connects it to God’s rest during creation.

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Prompt 2 – Compare those lists of commandments with the commandments in Exodus 34. Provide the context for the differences.

The commandments in Exodus 34:10–28 are sometimes referred to as the “Ritual Decalogue” because they focus on covenantal obligations tied to Israel’s worship and ritual life. These differ significantly from the Ethical Decalogues found in Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21, which emphasize moral behavior and universal principles. Below is a comparison, followed by an explanation of the context for these differences.

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The Commandments in Exodus 34:10–28 (ASV)

1. No covenant with the inhabitants of Canaan (Exodus 34:12)
   “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee.”
2. Destroy Canaanite altars, images, and groves (Exodus 34:13)
   “But ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their Asherim.”
3. Do not worship other gods (Exodus 34:14)
   “For thou shalt worship no other god: for Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
4. No intermarriage with the inhabitants of the land (Exodus 34:16)
   “And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters play the harlot after their gods, and make thy sons play the harlot after their gods.”
5. Do not make molten gods (Exodus 34:17)
   “Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.”
6. Keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 34:18)
   “The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.”
7. Dedicate the firstborn to God (Exodus 34:19–20)
   “All that openeth the womb is mine; and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of ox and sheep.”
8. Observe the Sabbath (Exodus 34:21)
   “Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in plowing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.”
9. Celebrate the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 34:22)
   “And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, even of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.”
10. Do not offer sacrifices with leaven or leave leftovers until morning (Exodus 34:25)
    “Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.”
11. Bring the first of the firstfruits to the house of Jehovah (Exodus 34:26a)
    “The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring unto the house of Jehovah thy God.”
12. Do not boil a kid in its mother’s milk (Exodus 34:26b)
    “Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.”

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Comparison to Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5

1. Content Focus:
   • Exodus 20/Deuteronomy 5: These are ethical and universal principles governing worship of God, human relationships, and moral conduct (e.g., no killing, no stealing, honoring parents, etc.).
   • Exodus 34: These commandments are focused on maintaining covenant loyalty to God through worship practices, rituals, and avoiding idolatry.
2. Structure:
   • Exodus 20/Deuteronomy 5: These lists are highly structured and framed as direct divine speech with a clear sequence of ten moral commands.
   • Exodus 34: These are more scattered instructions given in the context of renewing the covenant after the sin of the golden calf.
3. Sabbath Commandment:
   • Both Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 emphasize the theological and ethical significance of Sabbath observance.
   • Exodus 34 simply reiterates Sabbath observance in a practical sense (even during harvest).
4. Emphasis on Idolatry:
   • Exodus 34 emphasizes practical safeguards against idolatry, such as destroying Canaanite altars and avoiding intermarriage, reflecting Israel’s immediate historical context.
   • Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 address idolatry in broader terms through the prohibition of graven images.

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The Context for the Differences

1. Historical Setting:
   • Exodus 20 is part of the initial covenant given at Mount Sinai, reflecting God’s establishment of a relationship with Israel and the articulation of universal moral laws.
   • Exodus 34 follows the breaking of the first set of tablets (Exodus 32, golden calf incident). The commandments in Exodus 34 are part of a covenant renewal, emphasizing worship practices and avoiding the idolatry that led to the earlier crisis.
2. Audience Needs:
   • The Ethical Decalogue (Exodus 20/Deuteronomy 5) is foundational and applies to all aspects of life, providing moral guidance for the entire nation.
   • The Ritual Decalogue (Exodus 34) focuses on Israel’s specific covenant identity, highlighting actions that maintain purity in worship and distinctiveness from neighboring nations.
3. Theological Purpose:
   • Exodus 34 reflects the specific context of preparing Israel for life in the Promised Land. The commandments are pragmatic and aim to prevent Israel from assimilating into the idolatrous practices of surrounding cultures.

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In summary, the commandments in Exodus 34 are not a replacement for the Ethical Decalogue but a covenant renewal emphasizing worship and ritual fidelity. They address the immediate challenge of maintaining covenant faithfulness in a world of competing cultures and religions.