Deuteronomy 10: New tablets, and what Yahweh asks of Israel
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What happens?
Moses tells how Yahweh had him cut two new stone tablets and make a wooden ark, and how Yahweh wrote the ten commandments on them again and Moses put them in the ark. A short passage tells of Israel's travels, Aaron's death, and how Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi. Then Moses asks what Yahweh requires: to fear him, walk in his ways, love and serve him, and love the foreigner, because Israel were foreigners in Egypt.
Who is speaking?
Moses speaks to Israel in the whole chapter. He reports what Yahweh said to him in verses 1 and 2 and in verse 11. These are Moses' words telling what God said, so no verse is in gold. Verses 6 to 9, which this Bible puts in brackets, speak about Israel as "the children of Israel" instead of "you", and break off Moses' story. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1At that time Yahweh said to me, “Cut two stone tablets like the first, and come up to me onto the mountain, and make an ark of wood.
In plain English: At that time Yahweh said to me, "Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and come up to me on the mountain, and make yourself an ark (a box) of wood.
The Hebrew word: "Ark" is aron, which the dictionary gives as "a box".
Good to know: Here Moses makes the ark before he goes up the mountain. In to Yahweh tells Moses to cut the new tablets and come up the mountain, and no ark is named. In Exodus the ark is commanded in and made by Bezalel in . The text does not explain how the two accounts fit together.
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2I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.”
In plain English: I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke, and you are to put them in the ark."
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3So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two stone tablets like the first, and went up onto the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand.
In plain English: So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.
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4He wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Yahweh spoke to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire in the day of the assembly; and Yahweh gave them to me.
In plain English: He wrote on the tablets, as in the first writing, the ten commandments (literally: the ten words) that Yahweh spoke to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, on the day of the assembly. And Yahweh gave them to me.
The Hebrew words: "The ten commandments" is literally "the ten words", as in . See the note on .
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5I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are as Yahweh commanded me.
In plain English: I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark I had made. They are there, as Yahweh commanded me.
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6(The children of Israel traveled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his place.
In plain English: (The Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried, and Eleazar his son served as priest in his place.
Good to know: gives these stops in the other order, from Moseroth to Bene Jaakan. and say Aaron died on Mount Hor, while here he dies at Moserah. The text does not explain how these fit together.
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7From there they traveled to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.
In plain English: From there they traveled to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of streams of water.
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8At that time Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to stand before Yahweh to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.
In plain English: At that time Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of Yahweh's covenant, to stand before Yahweh to serve him, and to bless in his name, to this day.
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9Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brothers; Yahweh is his inheritance, according as Yahweh your God spoke to him.)
In plain English: That is why Levi has no share and no inheritance with his brothers. Yahweh is his inheritance, as Yahweh your God told him.)
Good to know: Yahweh tells Aaron the same in : "I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel."
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10I stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and Yahweh listened to me that time also. Yahweh would not destroy you.
In plain English: I stayed on the mountain, as the first time, forty days and forty nights, and Yahweh listened to me that time also. Yahweh was not willing to destroy you.
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11Yahweh said to me, “Arise, take your journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.”
In plain English: Yahweh said to me, "Get up, set out ahead of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them."
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12Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
In plain English: Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God ask of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
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13to keep Yahweh’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good?
In plain English: and to keep Yahweh's commandments and his statutes, which I command you today for your good?
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14Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein.
In plain English: Look, heaven and the highest heaven (literally: the heaven of heavens) belong to Yahweh your God, and the earth with everything in it.
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15Only Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today.
In plain English: Yet it was your fathers that Yahweh delighted in and loved, and he chose their offspring after them, you, out of all the peoples, as it is today.
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16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
In plain English: So circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn (literally: stiffen your neck) any longer.
Good to know: Circumcision was the sign of the covenant on the body (). Here the word is used for the heart. says Yahweh himself will circumcise their heart, and and use the same picture.
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17For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes.
In plain English: For Yahweh your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show favor (literally: lift up faces) and does not take a bribe.
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18He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing.
In plain English: He brings about justice for the fatherless and the widow, and he loves the foreigner (or: stranger), giving him food and clothing.
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19Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
In plain English: So love the foreigner, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
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20You shall fear Yahweh your God. You shall serve him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name.
In plain English: Fear Yahweh your God. Serve him, hold fast (this Bible: cling) to him, and swear by his name.
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21He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.
In plain English: He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your eyes have seen.
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22Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Yahweh your God has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.
In plain English: Your fathers went down into Egypt seventy persons, and now Yahweh your God has made you as many as the stars of the sky.
Good to know: and also give seventy. gives seventy-five.
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