The Ancients The Ten Commandments
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Dec 7, 2025 Dr. Dylan Johnson, a biblical scholar and lecturer at Cardiff University, dives deep into the origins and meanings of the Ten Commandments. He explores the historical context of the laws, contrasting the accounts in Exodus and Deuteronomy. Topics include the significance of Moses' unique access to God, the idolatry debate surrounding the golden calf, and the meanings of phrases like 'do not take God's name in vain.' Johnson also discusses the commandments' social functions, their role as ethical guidelines, and their enduring legacy in modern society.
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Divine Text As Monument
- The Ten Commandments are presented as divinely written, material tablets set apart from other scripture.
- Their unique materiality signals a monumental, foundational legal-religious claim about Israel's identity.
Monolatry Not Early Monotheism
- "You shall have no other gods" likely meant prefer Yahweh, not deny other gods outright.
- The phrasing points to monolatry: exclusive worship in practice, not early strict monotheism.
Why Idols Are Described By Realm
- The idol prohibition targets images of sky, earth, and subterranean waters as ancient categories of divine presence.
- That catalogue made perfect sense to Israelites immersed in Near Eastern cosmology.
