(KJV) Deuteronomy 51

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The Covenant at Horeb

[1] And Moses called all Israel2, and said unto them, Hear3, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and4 do them. [2] The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.5 [3] The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, [even] us, who [are] all of us here alive this day.6 [4] The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,7

The Ten Commandments[ Exodus 20:1–17 ]

[5] (I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,8

[6] I [am] the9 Lord thy God, which brought10 thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage11. [7] Thou shalt have none other gods before me.12 [8] Thou shalt not make thee [any] graven image13, [or] any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the waters beneath the earth: [9] Thou shalt not14 bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord15 thy God [am] a jealous God16, visiting17 the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me, [10] And shewing18 mercy unto thousands of them that love me19 and keep my commandments. [11] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold [him] guiltless that taketh his name in vain.20 [12] Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.21 [13] Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:22 [14] But the seventh day [is] the sabbath23 of the Lord thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger24 that [is] within thy gates; that thy manservant25 and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. [15] And remember26 that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and [that] the Lord27 thy God brought thee out thence through28 a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

[16] [¶]Honour29 thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days30 may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. [17] Thou shalt not kill.31 [18] Neither shalt thou commit adultery.32 [19] Neither shalt thou steal.33 [20] Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.34 [21] Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any [thing] that [is] thy neighbour’s.35

Moses Intercedes for the People[ Exodus 20:18–21 Hebrews 12:18–29 ]

[22] [¶]These words36 the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote37 them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. [23] And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, [even] all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;38 [24] And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard39 his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth40. [25] Now therefore why should we die? for this great41 fire will consume us: if we hear42 the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die. [26] For who [is43 there of] all flesh44, that hath heard the voice of the living45 God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we [have], and lived?464748 [27] Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear [it], and do [it].49 [28] And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all50 that they have spoken. [29] O that there51 were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all52 my commandments always, that it might53 be well with them, and with their children for ever!54 [30] Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. [31] But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do [them] in the land which I give them to possess it.55 [32] Ye shall observe56 to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not57 turn aside to the right hand or to the left. [33] Ye shall walk58 in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and [that it may be] well59 with you, and [that] ye may prolong [your] days in the land which ye shall possess.

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  1. Deut 5:1, The covenant in Horeb; Deut 5:6, The ten commandments; Deut 5:23, At the people’s request Moses receives the law from God. 

  2. Deut 1:1, Deut 29:2, Deut 29:10 

  3. Deut 4:1 

  4. Heb. keep to, Matt 23:3 

  5. Deut 4:23; Exod 19:5-8, Exod 24:8; Heb 8:6-13, Heb 9:19-23 

  6. Deut 29:10-15; Gen 17:7, Gen 17:21; Ps 105:8-10; Jer 32:38-40; Matt 13:17; Gal 3:17-21; Heb 8:8-9 

  7. Deut 5:24-26, Deut 4:33, Deut 4:36, Deut 34:10; Exod 19:9, Exod 19:18-19, Exod 20:18-22, Exod 33:11; Num 12:8 

  8. Deut 5:27; Gen 18:22; Exod 19:16, Exod 20:18-21, Exod 24:2-3; Num 16:48; Ps 106:23; Jer 30:21; Zech 3:1-5; Gal 3:19; Heb 9:24, Heb 12:18-24 

  9. Deut 4:4; Exod 20:2-17; Lev 26:1-2 

  10. Ps 81:5-10 

  11. Heb. servants 

  12. Exod 20:3; Matt 4:10; John 5:23; 1John 5:21 

  13. Deut 4:15-19; Exod 20:4 

  14. Exod 20:4-6 

  15. On the import of the word yehowah, which we translate Lord, see note on Exod 3:15. The word elohim, which is rendered God, in the singular, eloah, and in Arabic allah, is derived from the Arabic alaha, he worshipped, adored, was struck with astonishment, fear, or terror, and hence, he adored with sacred honour and veneration. It also signifies, he succoured, liberated, kept in safety, or defended. Here we learn that elohim denotes the sole object of adoration; the perfections of whose nature must astonish all who contemplate them, and fill with horror all who rebel against him; that consequently he must be worshipped with reverence and religious fear; and that every sincere worshipper may expect help in all his weaknesses, etc., freedom from the power, guilt, and consequences of sin, and support and defence to the uttermost. 

  16. Exod 34:14 

  17. Exod 34:7; Jer 32:18; Dan 9:4-9; Matt 23:35-36; Rom 11:28-29 

  18. Isa 1:16-19; Jer 32:18; Dan 9:4; Matt 7:21-27; Gal 5:6; 1John 1:7 

  19. Deut 6:5-6, Deut 10:12-13; John 14:15, John 14:21-23, John 15:14; Rom 8:28; Jas 1:25; 1John 5:2-3 

  20. Deut 6:13; Exod 20:7; Lev 19:12; Ps 139:20; Jer 4:2; Matt 5:33-34; Jas 5:12 

  21. Exod 20:8-11; Isa 56:6, Isa 58:13 

  22. Exod 23:12, Exod 35:2-3; Ezek 20:12; Luke 13:14-16, Luke 23:56 

  23. Gen 2:2; Exod 16:29-30; Heb 4:4 

  24. Neh 13:15, Neh 13:21 

  25. Exod 23:12; Lev 25:44-46; Neh 5:5 

  26. Deut 15:15, Deut 16:12, Deut 24:18-22; Isa 51:1-2; Eph 2:11-12 

  27. Deut 5:6; Ps 116:16; Isa 63:9; Luke 1:74-75; Titus 2:14 

  28. Deut 4:34-37 

  29. Exod 20:12; Lev 19:3; Matt 15:4-6; Col 3:20 

  30. Deut 4:40, Deut 27:16; Eph 6:1-3 

  31. Exod 20:13; Matt 5:21-22 

  32. Exod 20:14; Prov 6:32-33; Matt 5:27-28; Luke 18:20; Jas 2:10-11 

  33. Exod 20:15; Rom 13:9; Eph 4:28 

  34. Deut 19:16-21; Exod 20:16, Exod 23:1; 1Kgs 21:13; Prov 6:19, Prov 19:5, Prov 19:9; Mal 3:5 

  35. Exod 20:17; 1Kgs 21:1-4; Mic 2:2; Hab 2:9; Luke 12:15; Rom 7:7-8, Rom 13:9; 1Tim 6:9-10; Heb 13:5 

  36. Deut 5:4, Deut 4:12-15, Deut 4:36; Exod 19:18-19 

  37. Deut 4:13; Exod 24:12, Exod 31:18 

  38. Exod 20:18-19; Heb 12:18-21 

  39. Deut 5:4-5; Exod 19:19 

  40. Deut 4:33; Gen 32:30; Exod 33:20; Judg 13:22 

  41. Deut 18:16, Deut 33:2; 2Cor 3:7-9; Gal 3:10, Gal 3:21-22; Heb 12:29 

  42. Heb. add to hear 

  43. It seems to have been a general opinion, that if God appeared to men, it was for the purpose of destroying them. And indeed most of the extraordinary manifestations of God were in the way of judgment; but here it was widely different. God did appear in a sovereign and extraordinary manner; but it was for the instruction, direction, deliverance, and support of his people. 

  44. Gen 6:12; Isa 40:6; Rom 3:20 

  45. Josh 3:10; Ps 42:2, Ps 84:2; Jer 10:10; Dan 6:26; Matt 26:63; Acts 14:15; 2Cor 6:16; 1Thess 1:9 

    1. They heard this voice speaking with them in a distinct, articulate manner.

    1. They saw the fire, the symbol of his presence, the appearances of which demonstrated it to be supernatural.

    1. Notwithstanding God appeared so terrible, yet no person was destroyed; for he came not to destroy but to save. Deut 4:33

  46. Exod 20:19; Heb 12:19 

  47. Deut 18:17; Num 27:7, Num 36:5 

  48. Deut 32:29-30; Ps 81:13-15; Isa 48:18; Jer 44:4; Ezek 33:31-32; Matt 23:37; Luke 19:42; 2Cor 5:20, 2Cor 6:1; Heb 12:25 

  49. Deut 11:1; Ps 106:3, Ps 119:1-5; Luke 11:28; John 15:14; Rev 22:14 

  50. Deut 5:16; Deut 4:40, Deut 6:3, Deut 6:18; Deut 12:25, Deut 12:28; Deut 19:13; Deut 22:7; Ruth 3:1; Ps 19:11; Isa 3:10; Jer 22:14-15; Eph 6:3; Jas 1:25 

  51. The language of the original is emphatic: Mee yittain wehayah levavom zeh lahem, literally, "Who will give that there may be such a heart in them?" They refuse to receive such a heart from me, who then can supply it? 

  52. See note on Deut 5:1; Deut 4:1, Deut 4:5, Deut 4:45; Deut 6:1; Deut 11:1; Deut 12:1; Ezek 20:11; Mal 4:4; Gal 3:29 

  53. Deut 6:3, Deut 6:25; Deut 8:1; Deut 11:32; Deut 24:8; 2Kgs 21:8; Ezek 37:24 

  54. Deut 4:1-2; Deut 12:32; Deut 17:20; Deut 28:14; Josh 1:7; Josh 23:6; Ps 125:5; Prov 4:27; 2Pet 2:21 

  55. Deut 10:12; Ps 119:6; Jer 7:23; Luke 1:6; Rom 2:7 

  56. Deut 5:29; Deut 4:40; Jer 7:23; 1Tim 4:8