Chapter 13 Moses' Ten Commandments

Mount Sinai Then, unfortunately, during the time when the commander was away, the Jewish camp was in chaos, and Aaron was too weak to restrain the people, and the camp soon became a proper Egyptian village.The women took off their gold jewellery, and cast a golden statue of the sacred bull, the idol of the inhabitants of the Nile Valley.When Moses returned to the camp, people were dancing around the bull. Moses had heard the noise from afar, and now at last he understood what was going on.In a rage, he threw the slate to the ground and smashed it to pieces.He then toppled the golden statue and called his supporters to put down this dangerous rebellion.

The most powerful Levitical tribes, rallying in support of Moses, surrounded the rebels.Killed those who did not recognize Jehovah, and showed no mercy to the organizers and instigators. By night, the rebellion died down.Two thousand people were killed and they lay there with their lifeless eyes looking at the summit of Mount Sinai.It was there that Yahweh spoke with the first great prophet.Since then, the prophets have repeatedly warned mankind: "Cowardice and evil are stupid." This event deeply disappointed Moses, who realized the need for decisive action, knowing that the people needed not only leaders but written laws.They must be compelled to obey the words of the elders.Otherwise, the whole team will be in chaos.The Jews will never become a strong and unified nation.

He climbed Mount Sinai again, and when he came back, his expression showed that he saw something that others couldn't see. His eyes were so bright that no one dared to look him in the eyes. He brought back two new tablets with the covenant inscribed on them.The original slab was destroyed on his last return after discovering that his people worshiped the golden bull. Here are Jehovah’s “Ten Commandments”: Do not believe in any god other than Yahweh, Do not carve or worship other idols, including those worshiped in Egypt. Do not blaspheme the name of the LORD, The Sabbath must be kept in honor of God.

You must honor your parents, You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery with another man's wife, and a woman shall not commit adultery with another man's husband. do not steal, Do not frame others, Do not be covetous, and do not plunder your neighbor's property. Now the Jews have a covenant, but they still need a meeting place to worship Yahweh.Moses then ordered the construction of a tabernacle or sanctuary, which was equivalent to a church, with walls made of wood and a roof covered with cloth.Many years later, when the Jews entered the city, they used marble and granite to build a new tabernacle, which is known as the Jerusalem Temple.

The priests were then appointed to preside over the services in the Tabernacle during the ceremony.The Levites were chosen to serve as priests because they were firmly on Moses' side in the matter of the golden bull.The Levites have been an important character throughout Jewish history.And Moses became the uncrowned king of all the Jews.Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and declared that he was the only one who could meet the Lord, and then he would tell the people God's revelation as needed.In addition, he also stipulated that after his death, his position would be succeeded by his brother Aaron and his descendants.

In his previous life in the desert, Moses was under the pressure of trivial affairs, because everyone did not know who was in charge of their daily affairs, so Moses classified everyone into different groups.Each group appoints an elder, called a magistrate, who handles daily affairs and resolves minor disputes.In this way, everyone can live in harmony. Everything was ready, and Moses gave the order to go.In the past year, a towering beam of light has been floating above their heads, guiding them.Now, the beam of light floats on the Ark of the Covenant containing the tablets of the Covenant. The Levites carried the Ark of the Covenant (later it was permanently placed in the temple), and 7,000 Jews followed.

They are getting closer to their ancestral homeland, but the troubles are also increasing.Moses' wife, Zipporah, died, and he married a woman from the tribe of Cush.The Jews considered her alien, disliked her, and openly expressed their displeasure.Moses was in a difficult situation.Not even his siblings support him.Although they held important positions in the country that Moses founded, they were still jealous and demanded higher positions. In a fit of anger, Moses took Aaron to the top of Mount Hor and deprived him of all official positions. Finally, Canaan was in sight, but fierce snakes blocked their way.Moses cast a huge golden snake and hung it on a pole where everyone could see it, so that the harm of the poisonous snake would be solved.

But the closer you get to the Jordan, the stronger the enemy becomes.Soon the Jewish camps were filled with stories of fearsome giants who were descended from the Anakites and lived on Abraham's farm.And Moses was about to take back the place for his own people. To quell rumors, Moses selected one man from each of the twelve tribes to go scouting.Soon, Joshua and Caleb (a young man from the tribe of Judah) came back with a large pile of grapes. They said that the grapes were found in the valley of Eshcol, where the land was fertile and rich in milk and honey.Of course, several battles are still to be fought to take this place, but they are sure of victory, and it is recommended to advance immediately.

But panic has spread to various tribes.For so long, they kept walking, walking, suffering hunger, heat, thirst, and poisonous insects; now they have to face these enemies: Hittites, Ubusites, Amorites, Canaanites, Yamal strong man.OMG! This is overkill.They rebelled again. Dazed minds openly advocated a return to Egypt, and many shouted and lobbied.Moses, Aaron (he had some courage this time) and the brave Joshua tried to dissuade the people, saying that the situation was now too much to back down.But no one listened, people lost their minds.Their endless travels make them desperate, and they just want to be safe, even if it means wearing chains.

The LORD was furious, he lost his patience, and his voice came from the tent of meeting, saying that the Jews had rebelled against his will again and again.As punishment for their infidelity, they were sentenced to forty years of wandering in the desert. A few fools went on and died at the hands of the Canaanites and Amalek. Others obeyed the sentence, turned their backs to the Promised Land, and wandered in the desert for forty years, becoming shepherds just like Abraham and Isaac. Slowly, the new generation forgot the experience of their fathers in Egypt and returned to a simple life, which is exactly what Moses wanted to achieve.He is satisfied because he has accomplished his mission.

The great prophet who gave the covenant to the sons of Jacob and carried it down to this day was old and very, very tired.He had a premonition of his imminent death and designated Joshua as his successor (Aaron was already too old and weak).Then he climbed to the top of Bisgah Peak on the east bank of the Dead Sea, overlooking the Jordan River valley. When he died, no one else was around, and no one knew where he died.