What is written on the tablets of stone?

[oldthennew]

I dread the thought of what would have been my life or what I would
have done had I not been shown by strangers that there were rules
and boundries for me to abide by, given by Someone I couldn't see
or touch, but by His Holy grace, He gave a little, lost girl the gift of
eternal love.
my amazement will never cease, nor my love for Him.

 

[Zmouth]

What good comes from keeping law? Only heaping up treasures for yourself, are you that good? Are you a super Christian? Doesn't the law point to the cross? Least any man should boast.

Since it is written in Romans 8:24 that we are saved by hope; what doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?[SUP] X[/SUP] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. [SUP]X [/SUP]Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. [SUP]X[/SUP]

 

[Brother_Don]

Thanks for the thread u-2, i think that there is more to the tablets, than what we have been taught by man. Thank God Almighty for the Holy Spirit opening our eyes to these things that the evil one has been trying to keep us in the dark on.

 

[Brother_Don]

maybe if we did know all of what the Father wants of us and for us, we would be of no earthly use especially in todays world. We would be labled as bigger heretics than we already are. Jesus was called a heretic, and worse for speaking truth. Some day all mysteries will be revealed, its happening, more, and more.

 

[just-me]

Not sure if you noticed you where referring unto the 'tables' as tablets?

Are you familar with the Sumerian cuneiforms called tablets found in the late 1800's?

Sumerian cuneiforms is an unknown language.

Exodus 24:12 (KJV) 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, and commandments which I have written ; that thou mayest teach them.

Exodus 24:12 (CJB) ADONAI said to Moshe, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay there. I will give you the stone "tablets" with the Torah and the mitzvot I have written on them, so that you can teach them."

Depends on the version of the Bible that some use. It didn't have a question about it even though I use the KJV. God bless brother

 

[just-us-2]

And Moses called all the children of Israel and said unto them, Hear O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them and keep and do them. .. . . The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire ( I stood between the LORD and you at that time to shew you the word of the LORD: . . . . Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image . . . Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them nor serve them: . . . Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain . . . Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it . . . . Honour thy father and thy mother . . . Thou shalt not kill. . .. Neither shalt thou commit adultery. . . Neither shalt thou steal. . . Neither shalt thou covet . . . These words the LORD spake unto all our 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 wrote them in two tablets of stone, and delivered them unto me. Deut. 5:1,4,5a,7-9,11,12,16-21,22

We all know that our Adversary would like nothing better than to make us all ineffective and do to us as he did when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He says fine sounding things but it is up to us to discern truth from deliberate deception and truth from error, so I examine things.
As I was meditating on this passage in Deuteronomy 5, I could not be sure in my own mind that what we call the Ten Commandments were what was really written on stone, so I undertook my favorite pastime – researching. I started looking for a translation of Deuteronomy from the original Hebrew from before the Septuagint and found a few other very early translations as well. I don’t want this to get too long so I will consolidate what I have found so far.

First, note the difference in verse 22, which is a key to understanding what is going on in this passage. The original Hebrew doesn't have the phrase (and he added no more). It is clear that it was Moses that “added no more” Not that God “added no more.” But that phrase was added, (ironically) probably during Constantine's day. This was the beginning of the first Roman Catholic Church.

Also very interesting and older than 1590 is the verse in Hebrew:
את-הדברים האלה דבר יהוה אל-כל-קל כם בהר,מתוך האש הענן
ן ה ערפל--קול גדול,ולא כתבם, על-ששני לחת אבנים, ויתנם, אלי

This, in Deuteronomy 5:22 when translated to English reads as follows."These things the word of the Lord to all the easier agreement mountain, the cloud of fire estate of fog - great voice, and wrote them, the two tables of stone, and delivered them into me."

As written in a more conversational manner from the Hebrew to English it says, Deuteronomy 5:22 "These words ADONAI spoke to your entire gathering at the mountain from fire, cloud and thick mist, in a loud voice; then it ceased. But he wrote them on two stone tablets, which he gave to me.”
And the traditional KJV says, “These words 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 wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.”

I found it very interesting that the original Geneva (1560) Bible says in the preface of the book of Deuteronomy:

“The Fifth Book Of Moses Called (*) Deuteronomy
(*) That is, a second law; so called because the Law which God gave in mount Sinai, is here repeated, as
though it were a new Law; and this book is a commentary or exposition of the ten commandments.”​

The Geneva Study Bible (1599) says:
Deuteronomy 5:22 “These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly on the mount from the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he (*not in the original Hebrew) added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them to me.
(*)Teaching us by his example to be content with his word, and add nothing to it.”
As we are told in Deuteronomy 4:2 In order to obey the mitzvot of ADONAI your God which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and do not subtract from it.

 

[just-us-2]

Many separate verse 2 in Exodus, and verse 6 in Deuteronomy as the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] commandment, but it is God's voice introducing Himself so Israel would know that the same God who brought them out of bondage was speaking to them.

Deuteronomy 5:1-22
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. ADONAI our God made a covenant with us at Horev. ADONAI did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us -with us, who are all of us here alive today. ADONAI spoke with you face to face from the fire on the mountain. At that time I stood between ADONAI and you in order to tell you what ADONAI was saying; because, on account of the fire, you were afraid and wouldn't go up onto the mountain. He said,

1st= I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you lived as slaves.
You are to have no other gods before me. You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline you are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, ADONAI your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents, also the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.

2nd= You are not to misuse the name of ADONAI your God, because ADONAI will not leave unpunished someone who misuses his name.

3rd= Observe the day of Shabbat, to set it apart as holy, as ADONAI your God ordered you to do. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat for ADONAI your God. On it you are not to do any kind of work - not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your ox, your donkey or any of your other livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property - so that your male and female servants can rest just as you do. You are to remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and ADONAI your God brought you out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore ADONAI your God has ordered you to keep the day of Shabbat.

4th= Honor your father and mother, as ADONAI your God ordered you to do, so that you will live long and have things go well with you in the land ADONAI your God is giving you.

5th= Do not murder.

6th= Do not commit adultery.

7th= Do not steal.

8th= Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.

9th= Do not covet your neighbor's wife; do not covet your neighbor's house, his field, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'

Exodus 20:1-17
And God spake all these words, saying,

1st= I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

2nd= 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.

3rd= Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour , and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

4th= Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

5th= Thou shalt not kill.

6th= Thou shalt not commit adultery.

7th= Thou shalt not steal.

8th= Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

9th= Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

 

[just-us-2]

maybe if we did know all of what the Father wants of us and for us, we would be of no earthly use especially in todays world. We would be labled as bigger heretics than we already are. Jesus was called a heretic, and worse for speaking truth. Some day all mysteries will be revealed, its happening, more, and more.

That reminds me of what George Orwell (author of the book, "1984") said. "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it."

 

[Brother_Don]

Revelation 16:15, Behold I come as a thief, Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. garments = laws, is the way i see it.Keep watching keep awake.

 

[just-me]

maybe if we did know all of what the Father wants of us and for us, we would be of no earthly use especially in todays world. We would be labled as bigger heretics than we already are. Jesus was called a heretic, and worse for speaking truth. Some day all mysteries will be revealed, its happening, more, and more.

That reminds me of what George Orwell (author of the book, "1984") said. "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it."

I heard another quote about the truth. "The truth may not alway be popular, but it's always right."
Blessings of our God upon you both.

 

[Brother_Don]

No Killing probably goe's deeper than just killing a human. What about killing ones spirit, causing confusion. Or killing the bug that was going to eat the bug that was going to harm you, or....

 

[Marian29]

I most definitely believe the Holy Scriptures were inspired by God. God’s Word is full of mysteries, not secrets – mysteries…mysteries that we are to search out. He wants us to strive to know Him better and to draw close to Him so He can draw close to us.
I suppose it would be nice to see the stone tablets myself but that seems highly unlikely, so what I would like to know is: what was written on the stone tablets? Man “invented” the term Ten Commandments later but the original Hebrew uses the phrase the “Ten Words” and the word “covenant.” Deuteronomy 4:13 -"He proclaimed his covenant to you, which he ordered you to obey, the Ten Words; and he wrote them on two stone tablets." I grew up being taught the same thing most kids are taught about the Ten Commandments, and I just accepted it. But in more than forty years of being a Christian I have learned that I must question and research what I am being told that God says in His word. The Bereans did exactly that in Acts 17. To keep this short, I did an in-depth study of the types of covenants and learned a LOT. Comparing the concept of covenant with the simple “Thou shalt…” of what we know as the Ten Commandments doesn’t match. So, I am thinking that the ten words are possibly an outline of the covenant process God designed, or maybe an explanation of the plan of salvation, or something like that – something that fits the pattern of covenant better. A covenant concerns at least two parties and they both have obligations as well as benefits. Did I do a little better at explaining my thoughts?

You are free to research, and I also like very much to research, as long as it doesn't contradicts the Scriptures. You're being outrageous when you say the 10 commandments were 'invented' by men. What sources is more trustfull than the Bible? No one. No book.

Keep going with your researchs, but also think about, till what point am I passing the limite of my human condition, to don't know everything about God? It's dangerous for us, as limited men wanting to discover everything about God, it's not good at all to put our faith in risk. God is wonderful, all we need to know is in the Holy Scripture, that's the greatest source for our own good living.

Be careful. God Bless you.

 

[just-us-2]

You are free to research, and I also like very much to research, as long as it doesn't contradicts the Scriptures. You're being outrageous when you say the 10 commandments were 'invented' by men. What sources is more trustfull than the Bible? No one. No book.

Keep going with your researchs, but also think about, till what point am I passing the limite of my human condition, to don't know everything about God? It's dangerous for us, as limited men wanting to discover everything about God, it's not good at all to put our faith in risk. God is wonderful, all we need to know is in the Holy Scripture, that's the greatest source for our own good living.

Be careful. God Bless you.

Thank you, Marian, for your concern. It is something not seen much these days, even in a Christian Forum. I am sorry you think I am outrageous, but it isn’t that man invented the Ten Commandments, the term – the label – of Ten Commandments was invented by men, not the commandments themselves. It can be easily misunderstood. God wants us to inquire of Him – it is how we get to know Him better and gain a better relationship with Him. After all, it IS all about relationship. I consider it much more dangerous to not know all we can about God and His truth and what He expects of us – those of us who call ourselves Christians, followers of Yeshua Messiah. There is horrendous spiritual warfare going on all around us that we cannot see and the best advice for winning battle is to know your enemy, and in this war, we must know exactly what our Master says and not be deceived by a false doctrine which would likely be some Biblical truth just slightly twisted to render it untruth and spread by the enemy using ordinary people who have not discerned what they teach others. Those people are to be pitied – Matthew 5:19.
I never use Wikipedia because it is junk – anyone can post anything and mislead untold numbers of people and it is all mixed in with good information there. But I did find this website that tells about the origin of the phrase: mn05.htm - On the Ten Commandments – 'the words of the covenant, the ten words'. I don’t know of anything that is not reputable about the site. It says, “It appears that the phrase “the ten commandments” came into use in the Middle Ages, probably in the late 1200s. But, for instance Wycliffe and Coverdale did not use it in their translations (1395 and 1535).
The 1395 Wycliffe version had “ten words”.
Exodus 34:28 […] and he wroot in tablys ten wordis of the boond of pees.
Deuteronomy 4:13 […] he schewide ten wordis, whiche he wroot in two tablis of stoon.
Deuteronomy 10:4 And he wroot in the tablis, bi that that he ‘hadde writun bifore, ten wordis, whiche the Lord spak to you in the hil […]
(An explanation of Wycliffe’s translation “ten wordis of the boond of pees” in Exodus 34:28: “Boond” = bond; that word was in old times used even in the meaning “agreement” or “covenant”. “Pees” = peace. A “boond of pees” was simply a covenant or agreement between two parties.)
But, in the 1560 Geneva bible the wording was changed, in Exodus 34:28 to “and he wrote in the tables the wordes of the couenant, euen the ten commandements”, and in Deuteronomy 4:13 and 10:4 to “the ten commandements” and “the ten commādements”.

Yes, thank you, I will be careful.

 

[Laodicea]

Deuteronomy 8:9 KJV
(9) A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.


Is God ordering them not to lack or is it a promise?


Psalms 91:2-5 KJV
(2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
(3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
(4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
(5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;


Is God in this verse ordering them not to be afraid or is it a promise because He is our fortress?


Exodus 20:4 KJV
(4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:


So is this an order or a promise? It is a promise. They could never have done this in bondage and God showed them His love by deliverence. What is written on stone is 10 promises found in Exodus 20.


Romans 7:14 KJV
(14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.



If we look at thou shalt not as an order we are looking at the letter of the law but, if we see it as a promise the spirit of the law. The 10 commandments in Exodus 20 written on stone are 10 promises.

 

[peacefulbeliever]

We all know that our Adversary would like nothing better than to make us all ineffective and do to us as he did when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He says fine sounding things but it is up to us to discern truth from deliberate deception and truth from error, so I examine things.
As I was meditating on this passage in Deuteronomy 5, I could not be sure in my own mind that what we call the Ten Commandments were what was really written on stone, so I undertook my favorite pastime – researching. I started looking for a translation of Deuteronomy from the original Hebrew from before the Septuagint and found a few other very early translations as well. I don’t want this to get too long so I will consolidate what I have found so far.

First, note the difference in verse 22, which is a key to understanding what is going on in this passage. The original Hebrew doesn't have the phrase (and he added no more). It is clear that it was Moses that “added no more” Not that God “added no more.” But that phrase was added, (ironically) probably during Constantine's day. This was the beginning of the first Roman Catholic Church.

Also very interesting and older than 1590 is the verse in Hebrew:
את-הדברים האלה דבר יהוה אל-כל-קל כם בהר,מתוך האש הענן
ן ה ערפל--קול גדול,ולא כתבם, על-ששני לחת אבנים, ויתנם, אלי

This, in Deuteronomy 5:22 when translated to English reads as follows."These things the word of the Lord to all the easier agreement mountain, the cloud of fire estate of fog - great voice, and wrote them, the two tables of stone, and delivered them into me."

As written in a more conversational manner from the Hebrew to English it says, Deuteronomy 5:22 "These words ADONAI spoke to your entire gathering at the mountain from fire, cloud and thick mist, in a loud voice; then it ceased. But he wrote them on two stone tablets, which he gave to me.”
And the traditional KJV says, “These words 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 wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.”

I found it very interesting that the original Geneva (1560) Bible says in the preface of the book of Deuteronomy:

“The Fifth Book Of Moses Called (*) Deuteronomy
(*) That is, a second law; so called because the Law which God gave in mount Sinai, is here repeated, as
though it were a new Law; and this book is a commentary or exposition of the ten commandments.”​

The Geneva Study Bible (1599) says:
Deuteronomy 5:22 “These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly on the mount from the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he (*not in the original Hebrew) added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them to me.
(*)Teaching us by his example to be content with his word, and add nothing to it.”
As we are told in Deuteronomy 4:2 In order to obey the mitzvot of ADONAI your God which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and do not subtract from it.

He added no more - ASV, AMP, HCSB, CEB [and only these], DARBY, ERV, ESV, 1599 Geneva [and added no more thereto], 1587 Geneva [and he added no more], Wycliff, Young's Literal Translation, Tyndale - all these and more have "He added no more". It is the KJV's habit of putting words added in italics - these are not in italics.
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statues and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. - 4:2. In 5:22 - the pronoun "He" refers back LORD meaning HE, the LORD, added no more.

 

[just-me]

I found it very interesting that the original Geneva (1560) Bible says in the preface of the book of Deuteronomy:

“The Fifth Book Of Moses Called (*) Deuteronomy
(*) That is, a second law; so called because the Law which God gave in mount Sinai, is here repeated, as
though it were a new Law; and this book is a commentary or exposition of the ten commandments.”​

The Geneva Study Bible (1599) says:
Deuteronomy 5:22 “These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly on the mount from the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he (*not in the original Hebrew) added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them to me.
(*)Teaching us by his example to be content with his word, and add nothing to it.”
As we are told in Deuteronomy 4:2 In order to obey the mitzvot of ADONAI your God which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and do not subtract from it.

Next time I read Deuteronomy (which will be soon) I'm going to look for more diffinitive discriptions of each of the promises/commandments/sayings/words. etc. That's interesting.

 

[peacefulbeliever]

What is it that you are trying to find and add to the "tablets of stone?" The judgments [Ex. 21-24]? The building of the sanctuary, altar, requirements for the priesthood and their clothing [25-31]? There were only two tablets of stone and Moses had to be able to carry them . . . so I guess it would depend upon the measurements of the two tablets of stone and the "font" God used to write with . . . I'll just take scripture for face value . . . What he wrote on the first set - Ex. 20 - He wrote on the second set and added nothing more.

 

[just-us-2]

What is it that you are trying to find and add to the "tablets of stone?" The judgments [Ex. 21-24]? The building of the sanctuary, altar, requirements for the priesthood and their clothing [25-31]? There were only two tablets of stone and Moses had to be able to carry them . . . so I guess it would depend upon the measurements of the two tablets of stone and the "font" God used to write with . . . I'll just take scripture for face value . . . What he wrote on the first set - Ex. 20 - He wrote on the second set and added nothing more.

When I read Exodus 20:2-17 it is surely a blessing. When I read the recap of those commandments in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 it is obvious to me that Israel didn't understand what God was saying even though Exodus 20:22 says they saw that God spoke these words. Before Moses repeats what God first said in Exodus 20, he says "I speak in your ears this day" In Deuteronomy 5:1. God speaks to Moses because the people want him to be the mediator between them and God. Then we see 4 chapters later that Moses tells the people all that God has spoken to him. This includes Exodus 20:2-17, and confirmed in Deuteronomy 5:1 when Moses repeats what God spoke. Moses also wrote these words down in Exodus 24:4. I have thoughts that what was written on stone by God's own hand wasn't duplicated by Moses. What I have defined in these chronological events were all before God mentions the tables of stone, but as scripture says, God had already written on them. So another question might arise that we will never have an answer to.
'When did God write on the first set of stones?' Exodus 24:12

 

[Laodicea]

God first spoke the law to all Israel in Exodus 20 before writing it down.

 

[Laodicea]

Read Exodus 32 where Israel broke the covenant writen on stone. What did they do? They worshiped other gods, made an idol, worshiped and sacrificed to the idol. So what was the covenant writen on stone? Not to have other gods, not to make idols etc.

God is not going to spoon feed is all the time, He expects us to study, put the texts together and believe the evidence otherwise there is no need of faith.