I think it was my annual reading of the bible in 2013 that showed me it was not the 10 commandments which was written on the Tables of stone as we are taught to believe.  I did an article titled “…” which alluded to this; but did not comprehensively address the question.  Now in 2014, back at the same scriptures, I noticed some further things that led me to look into the question further.  These are my findings.  Controversial; but I think scriptural and logical.  I would however, appreciate any facts of substance that may shed light on a different conclusion.  I say facts rather than opinion or denominational theology.  

We should all agree that Yahweh God has His system and satn, His adversary, the deceive theirs.  The two do not mix though the latter may try and imitate principles and or aspects of Yahweh’s.  Satn’s aim is to set up a counterfeit system whereby

believers worship him through disobedience to Yahweh.  The disobedience comes through being deceived and or ignorant of the truth.  So we must 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

God’s ways existed from creation and was followed by Enoch, Noah and Abraham.  This is proven in other articles.  However I shall take up the story in Exodus 19 where God says Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation…  The people then prepared themselves to hear God speak to them.  This speech is recorded in Exo 20 and consist of a list of things the people are to do 1) Obey His voice 2) keep His covenant, THEN they shall be in His eyes a special people from the others on the earth.  This list of things include moral, social and administrative regulations for the community’s living and continues all the way to the end of Exo 23 save for a break in 20:18-21 to record the people’s fear.  If the community agreed to live by these instructions God said he would Exo 23:22 … be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.  

In chapter 24:1-12 we read this agreement is recorded and sealed.  Exo 24:3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.  Exo 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. 

First Tables of Stone. 

That would appear to be the end of that event.  Remember there were no chapters or verses in the original narrative.  These were inserted much later for ease of our reading and reference.  It was also all before the tables of stone, the account of which begins in Exo 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law⁸⁴⁵¹, and commandments⁴⁶⁸⁷ which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Exo 24:18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.  Then God speaks again to Moses giving him additional instructions Exo 25:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Exo 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

Exo 25:3 And this is the offering…  The instructions start in chapter 25 and concludes at the end of 31.   Exo 31:18  And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. When we list the categories of things that were told to Moses we find ones for:-

1. The Ark of Covenant (25:8)     5. Table for Shewbread (25:23)                8.  Candlestick (25:31)
2. The Tabernacle (26:1)            6. Altar burnt offerings ashes (27)             9.  Priests clothes (28:2)                     
3. Altar for incense (30)             7. Brass Laver (30:18)                              10.  Holy Oil (30:25, 37).
4. Dedication of Aaron and his sons to make them holy as the rest of above are holy (29:1, 18, 21). 

The making of these holy things took place between chapters 36:8-39:43.  As for the holiness these things which God has proclaimed to be holy being the ONLY one that can proclaim something holy not a man, priest or pastor who has their ring or other item kissed or touched.  See Exodus 29:37; 30:29; Lev 6:18, 27.  Could this be why when woman with issue of blood in Mat 9:20 touched Yahoshua’s garment in the mindset she was touching something holy, she was healed compared to common touching? 

Some of you may say that other things were made i.e. the breast plate of 28:36; but I think this was part of the holy garments as were the other things which fell into the expansion of one of the ten above. 

It is important to know what was on the first and that when they were written NO MENTION or indication was made of "ten commandments".  When Moses meets God again in Ex 34:5 to v27 again no mention is made of ten commandments.  What is mentioned is what God will do for the people, they are to break down images etc. of enemies gods (34:12), keep the feasts (34:18-24). Then comes 34:27 write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.  I remind you that if the people had not moved in Ex 20:18-21 God's inctructions would have contined to the end of His list and not be classed as ten.  If they had moved after the second or sixth commandment we would not be calling them two nor six commandents! 

In Ex 32 the narrative breaks to show what the people were doing while Moses was away and later, the consequences.  Exo 32:15 Moses comes down v16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.  V19 Moses breaks them in anger. Exo 32:30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. Exo 32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD... 

Chapter 32 starts with the Golden Calf worshipping account, records Moses’ decent from the mount, the breaking of the first set of stones, the consequences of the people’s idolatry and ends at the end of chapter 33 with God’s grace . 

I will digress for a moment.  It is a common belief that the people knew they were committing idolatry, yet to me, the wording is that they did not.  They were following an inherited Egyptian belief and practice of how to worship a god.  We read their intention to have a god lead them as before  v2 “Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him”.  They gave up their gold to make a calf to represent  v4 “they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. Exo 32:5  And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD (Yahweh). Exo 32:6  And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play”.  They may have been sincere in their ignorance of offering these things to God.  They had prior never met nor knew of  Yahweh (Ex 3:14) save for the plague events.  The worship system they knew they took from Egypt.  

We should learn a crucial lesson from this account that God does not accept things of satn regardless of the sincerity of the givers heart.  Maybe that is why it says Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Their good works etc did not save them.  Similarly the ignorant; but possibly sincere worship of the Israelites resulted in 3,000 being slain.  Will you be one of the similarly deceived and slain sincerely practicing inherited beliefs of man rather than the will and full commandments of God?

The second Tables of Stone:

Exo 34:1  And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.  Moses takes the two new stones to meet god who tells Moses what He is going to do, v11  “…I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

Exo 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:”   He also tells Moses what the people are to do and not to do v13-26 “Exo 34:13  But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: Exo 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:…”.  God then tells MOSES to write the instructions just received. Exo 34:27  And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.  These words consist of God’s covenant to take them to a land presently inhabited by others; but whom He God will drive out and the people are to do certain things in that land and live a certain way. 

Exo 34:29  And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 

So far we have God giving Moses three sets of instructions.

1. Those we call the ten commandments of Exodus 20:1-17; but that really included much more up to say end of chapter 23. Chapter 24:1-11 Moses writes these down, the people accept, he seals it with blood.  Done!
2. Chapters 24:12-34:27 Moses returns to God, gets another set of instructions regarding ten holy things (listed above) all of which are relevant to the process of forgiveness of sins. Sins being transgression of the instructions in 1.  However, God writes down this essential list on stone.  The first and replacement set.  If as some of you may now be thinking, it was not this forgiveness of sin system, then where were these written? If as the translators  have said it was the 10 commandments (Exo 34:28  And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments¹⁶⁹⁷.), then these are written twice and the sacrificial system none  (by Moses at 24:4 and by God at 31:18)!  Later we shall see "commandments" is not what was in original.  At the end of Ex 31:18 [And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God] the instructions which began at chapter 25 is finished and the tables are completed containing the writing (words¹⁶⁹⁷).  These “words” are, to me, obviously the instructions between 25 and 31:17
   
   Examination of the word "commandment¹⁶⁹⁷" 

What caught my attention this year reading this account is the number H1697 next to commandment in Ex 34:28.  I am use to seeing “commandments” as H4687.  My study bible [KJV Hebrew Greek Key Word Study bible ISBN No. 0-89957-657-5 (or 662)] which I strongly recommend, frequently has numerical, grammatical and other notations next to key words. Too many for me to always stop and check when reading; but it did alert me the translation should be “words” and not “commandments”.  This was verified when checking some other friend’s bible notations.  That is the problem with most of the bible translations we read.  No notations, numerical or other essentials to getting the correct scriptural understanding or at least being warned of mistranslations. Here "ten words" means ten subjects not ten lteral words only.

1. 1.  It was not the 10 commandments written on the stone as is commonly taught.  The actual Hebrew says He wrote "words". In short, compare the original word for "commandments" in the 3 places where bible translators have changed it to "10 commandments" and the word for commandments in say Ex 24:12.  i.e. H4687 compared to H1697
   Exo 24:12  And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount and be there and I will give thee tables of stone and a law,⁸⁴⁵¹ and commandments4687 which I have written that thou may teach them.
   
   Exo 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the tables the words1697 of the covenant, the ten commandments.1697

Deu 4:13  And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments;1697 and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Deu 10:4  And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments,1697  which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me. 

In all three places translators changed from “word¹⁶⁹⁷” to “commandments¹⁶⁹⁷” when the actual commandments⁴⁶⁸⁷ has a different Hebrew word / numerical identification.  At first I thought they may also have made an error with the word “ten” by inserting  it; but two good thing about the KJV is they italicise inserted words and are generally consistent in their translations of the same word by enabling identification of the source word from which they translated.  Since “ten” was not italicise I was left to assume it was in the original text.  I got a mental urge (some may call the Holy Spirit) to get out of bed, go read the account and count the number of main holy things God described to Moses.  I counted ten.  Possibly from a translator’s preconception the only ten things of which they knew were the commandments.  Hence “ten words” became “ten commandments”.

Let us apply 2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

Exo 34:28  And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words1697 of the covenant, the ten commandments1697. (same H1697 is used in Deu 4:13 and 10:40  WHY?)

H1697  דּבר  dâbâr   Total KJV Occurrences: 1446.  meaning a word; by implication a matter (as spoken of) of thing; adverbially a cause: - act, advice, affair, etc as below.
word, 435; words, 373; thing, 184; things, 56; acts, 51; matter, 48; chronicles, 37; nothing, 21; aying, 20; commandment, 15; manner, 15;  matters, 15; because, 10; business, 8; said, 8; answer, 7; book, 7; speech, 7;  cause, 6;  promise, 6;  commandments, 5;  rate, 5;  sayings, 5; answered, 4; portion, 4; tidings, 4; concerning, 3; deed, 3; duty, 3; errand, 3; message, 3; sentence, 3; advice, 2; affairs, 2; any, 2; causes, 2; certain, 2; deeds, 2; ought, 2; questions, 2; report, 2'; request, 2; sake, 2; spoken, 2 
AND ABOUT FORTY FIVE OTHER WORDS TOO MANY TO LIST.  So what would have been a better translation of H1697 if not its most common meaning of word(s) or thing(s).

H4687 מצוה  mitsvâh  (as in bar mitsvah of Hebrew boys)  Total KJV Occurrences: 181.
commandments, 130; commandment, 43; precepts, 3; commanded, 2; law, 1; ordinances, 1; precept, 1.
So the meaning is,  a command, whether human or divine (collectively the Law): - (which was) commanded (-ment), law, ordinance, precept.

The next day another mental urge reminded me of the other Christian understanding changes that have been made in the Hebrew scriptures during translation.  Also the intention from the conception of the Christian church to sever ties with what they call “Jewish” things.  Any honest Christian historian would read the hostility towards the Jews, both Orthodox and Messianic from bible accounts that worsened as time went on through the second, etc centuries.  Laws were passed prohibiting keeping anything “Jewish” from the seventh day Sabbath of Exodus 20:8, God’s other holy days of Leviticus 23 to circumcision. Those found breaking the law were killed.  In fact the same anti Jewish laws, which are really anti Yahweh laws, were passed i.e. in the historical period of the Maccabees.  Satn’s anti God laws administered against God’s Israelites was and is for the purpose of destroying knowledge and keeping of God’s instructed way of life.  The teaching came through the Christian church to the extent that even the Protestant church fathers who broke away from the Catholic church continued this propaganda.  For example Martin Luther of the 16^th century made some devastating remarks about the Jews and Christians today still have a belief that God’s instructions were solely for the Jews; but his “grace” for them!  

Most if not all of us have come through the Christian church or are still within one.  They got their ten commandments being written on stone belief from the Christian church founders and its translation and we from them.  Films like Charlton Heston’s epic “Ten Commandments” and other media has impressed in our belief system that is how it was.  I remind you to ask the question where was the sacrificial sin forgiveness instructions recorded?  Of course the Church cannot say the ten commandments are done away as that would be foolish and lead to anarchy.  Full scale lawlessness of murders, rapes et; but they can teach the feast days of Leviticus was done away by Yahoshua’s (Jesus to some) death. 

God reinstituted His way of righteous living through Moses to the descendants of Israel, who were to be an example and light to the other nations.  This way had two elements.  Keep the laws and if break any get forgiveness through the stipulated method.  Commandments, faith in the blood of the lamb (Leviticus 16).  Yahoshua’s death continued these two things.  Keep my father’s laws and if break any, repent and seek forgiveness through my (Yahoshua’s) blood.  He replaced Lev 16 being the lamb and high priest.   Even Revelations ends with these two elements Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

Exodus ends with the making of sanctuary sin forgiveness system and God’s glory filling the Tabernacle.  Leviticus starts with the continuation of God’s instructions through Moses and by the time we reach the end of what we call the T.O.R.A.H. (God’s righteous instructions) the society (nation) is established with God and His system at the helm.  Are all His righteous ways at your helm?  Do you keep His seventh day specifically identified Sabbath period of sunset 6^th day (Friday) to same seventh (Saturday) and do you keep His other holy days of Leviticus 23.  These are just part of not all His ways.  If you do not; but think in addition to your love for others and the other teachings you can substitute these I leave you with these verses. 

Lev 19:2 (1Pet 1:16) Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. Lev 19:5  And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will. Lev 19:6  It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire. Lev 19:7  And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted. Lev 19:8  Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.  Meaning one cannot offer what they want when they want in the manner they want.  God is specific.  This applies to ALL hallowed things.  Hallowed^H6944 (holy^H6944)   comes from the same Hebrew root word as sanctified^H6942 (qodesh and qadesh) which are found in Gen 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified^H6942 it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.  Lev 23:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy^H6944 convocations, even these are my feasts (Not Jews!).

We should not transgress God's instructions by the traditions of men.  Please email your comments to info@forwardtoyahweh.com   (Feb 14) 

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