Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"What the Israelites heard at Sinai has become known as the 'Ten Commandments.' But this description raises obvious problems. First, neither the Torah nor Jewish tradition calls them the Ten Commandments. The Torah calls them aseret hadevarim (Ex. 34:28), and tradition terms them aseret hadibrot, meaning 'the ten utterances.' Second, there was much debate, especially between Maimonides and Nahmanides, as to whether the first verse, 'I am the Lord your God ...,' is a command or a preface to the commands. Third, there are not ten commandments in Judaism but 613. Why, then, these but not those?

"Light has been shed on all these issues by the discovery, already mentioned, of ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaties, most of which share certain features and forms. They begin with a preamble stating who is initiating the covenant. That is why the revelation opened with the words, 'I am the Lord your God.' Then comes a historical review stating the background and context of the covenant, in this case, 'who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the slave-house.'

"Next come the stipulations, first in general outline, then in specific detail. That is precisely the relationship between the 'ten utterances' and the detailed commands set out in later chapters and books of the Torah. The former are the general outline, the latter, the details. So the 'ten utterances' are not commandments as such but an articulation of basic principles. What makes them special is that they are simple and easy to memorise. That is because in Judaism, law is not intended for judges alone. The covenant at Sinai was made by God with an entire people. Hence the need for a brief statement of basic principles that everyone could remember and recite."

-- Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, "The Ten Utterances (extract from the Koren-Sacks Shavuot machzor)"

[To my friends celebrating Shavuot, Chag Sameach!]