The language of ivrit ( עברית ) Exodus 20, Post #1
The language of ivrit ( עברית ) Exodus 20, Post #1
Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Exodus 20:1-6
We left chapter 19 behind last week. Now we get the meat of the covenant. Then commandments. The People were at the base of the mountain and the saw fire come down on the top of it. The earth trembled and the people covered their ears. Now, the Almighty speaks. I will try to put what the Hebrew states word for word.
Who am I ? The one who brought you out of slavery in Mitsraim (Egypt).
there is an insinuation that he is saying "you owe me."
1) There shall not be your other gods before my presence.
Breaking this first command, in an earthly sense, would be like heading to the father's day get together and bringing that other man, who is twice your age, the one that you always go to for support and advice, the one you take your car to when it breaks, and the one who you call when there is an electrical fire in one of your outlets. Problem: he is not your dad. Yeah, nevermind the one who raised you and provided for you. How is he going to feel?
2) You shall not make for yourselves carved images of any form that is in the heavens, on the earth below, or in the water from under the earth.
This one is deep. I would think the image of a deafening being who is scorching a mountain top would be comparison enough to make someone toss out those little hand made 'gods' for good.
The next one is because El (short for Elohim) knew they would not keep the last one.
3) You shall not bow down to them and serve them...
Then he tells them why "I, YHVH, elo-Che-Cha (Your God) am Jealous" and the assumption is that they will also break that one, which is known as hating Him.
Those who break that last one will have the sins of the fathers visited down on the third and fourth generations. But "doing steadfast love" on thousands (of generations) of the ones loving me and keeping my commands.
There is this word, Che-sed, in Hebrew (ch pronounced like the 'j' in frijoles) and its meaning is like the intensive care provided in the hospital - but related to love, not bandages and blood pressure.
There are no numbers on these commandments, as you can see, in the Hebrew. Translations have those. I am putting numbers on them as I go just to check if there are really 613 in the Law.
The cover photo is also wrong (in order of events at least) in that God first spoke the commands down to the people, then they were written by the finger of God, if that is the case when we get to the "tablets" part of the scriptures. Those are my notes and thoughts as we go through this foundational part of our faith.
Today's Reading
English
And God spoke all words, saying, "I am YHVH your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or 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. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I YHVH your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands' of those who love me and keep my commandments."
Hebrew
Next week, God's name and the Shabbat...
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