All Questions
219 questions
-3
votes
1
answer
98
views
Why do the tablets say "זכור את" and "כבד את" instead of "זכור" and "כבד"?
In the common representation of the Mosaic Tablets, why do they say "זכור את" and "כבד את" instead of "זכור" and "כבד"?
- 28k
3
votes
1
answer
167
views
Punishment for false testimony favoring the accused
One of the Ten Commandments is: "Don't give false testimony". This is generally understood as falsely testifying the accused is guilty, when he is innocent. One penalty is that the false ...
- 23.6k
4
votes
2
answers
83
views
Why the prohibition of idolatry doesn't stem from the Mitzvah of loving God?
The second commandment of the Ten, prohibits idolatry out of God's jealousy and harsh multi-generational punishment.
In the current era of romanticism, jealousy usually arises from deep love and ...
- 28k
1
vote
3
answers
172
views
Why there's no yearly Biblical commemoration for Matan Torah?
In the Torah, Exodus is a serious event that must be remembered and celebrated the same week every year. Multiple Biblical Mitzvos aim at remembering and enacting the event, such as retelling the ...
- 28k
3
votes
0
answers
45
views
Why "לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים" uses singular יִהְיֶה?
Regarding singular יהיה in "לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים" in both versions of the Ten COmmandments.
Does it mean that "אלוהים אחרים" is singular as in "כִּי מִי־גוֹי ...
- 28k
0
votes
0
answers
16
views
Textual non-uniformity of the Ten Commandments
The first apparent impression of reading the Ten Commandments is how they vary in phrasing:
some are just two words, links "don't murder", "don't [commit] adultery", or "don'...
- 28k
1
vote
1
answer
41
views
Why didn't Bne Israel say Shirah (song) upon Matan Torah?
I understand that Shirah is usually associated with the miraculous defeat of enemies, but I don't see any reason it should be limited to it.
Undoubtedly, the Matan Torah was a crucial event in the ...
- 28k
1
vote
2
answers
91
views
Why the Har Sinai revelation only included commandments?
During the Har Sinai revelation, God spoke to the nation only the Ten Commandments. He could, for example, give a very different speech, for example, include theology, as He did with Job (38.1):
&...
- 28k
1
vote
2
answers
113
views
Why the Har Sinai experience had to be so negative?
I had a conversation about the Haredi world, and I was pointed out that the Receiving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, the founding event in the history of the Jewish people, was also a dreadful and ...
- 28k
3
votes
2
answers
114
views
How were the ten commandments relayed technically?
It says in parsha Vo'eschanan that after the first two commandments, the Jews went to Moshe and said that it was too much and God said okay, (essentially,) "tell them to go to their tents and you ...
- 2,413
-4
votes
1
answer
104
views
What is the holiest "thing" ever? [closed]
Obviously besides for God Himself, and also perhaps the greatest tzadiqim (righteous people) in history, what else is considered the holiest "thing" ever? (Is it the two luhoth (tablets)? If ...
- 161
0
votes
1
answer
75
views
Prophetic status of all Israelites in the wilderness
Given the traditional understanding that God spoke the Ten Commandments directly to the entirety of the people of Israel at Mount Sinai (Deut 5.19), two questions arise:
is the Exodus generation that ...
- 28k
2
votes
0
answers
47
views
Why were the broken Luchos not in the Aron that was in the Kodesh Hakodoshim
in Bamidbar 10:33 the Pasuk says:
וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֜ה נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה׃
They ...
- 3,866
3
votes
2
answers
115
views
Is the 3rd commandment of "uttering God's name in vain" referenced anywhere in the Tanakh?
I'm looking for any signs of the awareness of this prohibition in the Tanakh. Note that there are additional explicit Biblical prohibitions such as "You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so ...
- 28k
2
votes
1
answer
110
views
Punishment for making a statue of YHWH and worshipping/bowing to it
After reading "The Origins of Judaism, An Archaeological Historical Reappraisal" by Dr. Yonathan Adler, I understood that the practice of not making images of God/gods changed rather ...
- 28k
1
vote
0
answers
45
views
Why is the prohibition against coveting (לא תחמוד) considered to be the greatest and most difficult commandment?
While writing an answer to the question of whether the War of Gog and Magog has occurred already (https://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/143162/7303), a very significant idea was mentioned, which ...
- 16.7k
3
votes
0
answers
42
views
Does Lying, Except in Court Testimony, Violate the Ninth Commandment?
Am I transgressing the ninth of the 10 Commandments of Moses if I lie, except when giving testimony in court?
In Exodus 20:13 it reads
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
- 356
1
vote
0
answers
51
views
Why Weren't Zachor and Shamor Written in Each Set of Tablets?
There were two sets of tablets. The text of the first set is recorded in Exodus 20. The Second set is in Deuteronomy 5. The first set states:
זָכוֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, לְקַדְּשׁוֹ. Remember the ...
- 1,182
0
votes
0
answers
47
views
Shevuos of the past
If the Shevuah that we made at Har Sinai to keep the Mitzvos is still in effect, then are all Shevuot made in a past Gilgul still active, and we could all be violating Shevuot left and right?
user34750
2
votes
1
answer
132
views
Tzitzis in the Midbar
Were tzitzis added to clothing immediately after Matan Torah and if so, how did they make the techelet which needs to be dyed "lishmah"?
- 29
1
vote
0
answers
59
views
Martzeia in the eye?
The Torah describes how a slave who doesn't want to leave his master (by Shmitah) has to get pierced through his ear:
Exodus 21:6
וְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ אֲדֹנָיו֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ אֶל־הַדֶּ֔לֶת ...
- 720
1
vote
0
answers
31
views
Why 2 sets of cantillation marks for the 10 commandments? [duplicate]
There are two sets of ta'amim for the Aseres Hadibros. (We read in the synagogue using Taamei Elyon.) But the ta'amim are supposed to be an aid to understanding. So, what differences in ...
- 8,381
1
vote
1
answer
102
views
Why does Rambam learn the prohibition for adultery from Parashat Acharei Mot and not Yitro?
Yitro contains 16 mitzvos according to Rambam. Most of them are linked to the 10 commandments but notably one commandment is missing: adultery.
Instead he learns this prohibition from Acharei Mot:
...
- 611
4
votes
1
answer
284
views
What did Israel hear at Sinai according to Rambam?
Rambam writes in MT (Yesodei haTorah 8:1 & 8:3) that Israel heard the actual words of the aseres hadibros on par with Moshe.
In the Moreh (2:33) he writes that they only heard an undifferentiated ...
- 4,020
1
vote
4
answers
182
views
What was the main purpose of the Exodus?
From some pesukim it seems that the main purpose of yetzias mitzrayim was to provide relief from their burdens and bring them to the promised land
e.g. Shemos 3:8
וָאֵרֵד לְהַצִּילוֹ מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם ...
- 4,020
2
votes
0
answers
93
views
Did the Israelites know the future?
The Torah was revealed to Israel at a certain point in time, and recounts many significant events that happened after that point. When the Torah was revealed, did the Israelites know about these ...
- 23.6k
0
votes
0
answers
181
views
10 Commandments and Non-Jews
Are there any sources that discuss the non-Jew's connection to and/or obligations regarding the 10 Commandments (i.e. the 10 Dibrot)
I've heard from rather learned (if not conventional) people claim ...
- 14.8k
0
votes
0
answers
71
views
Do the sages speak on the possibility that the original tablets Moshe Rabbeinu broke may have had different laws on them than the second set?
We're taught that when Moshe descended from Mt. Sinai, he carried with him a first set of tablets which he shattered on the ground at the sight of the Israelites worshipping a golden calf idol.
I have ...
- 1,413
2
votes
0
answers
59
views
What was Plan A for the Luchos?
In Devarim we see that the Aron was made for the purpose of storing the Luchos, but those were for the 2nd Luchos (after Moshe broke the first ones). My question is what was Plan A? Meaning when Moshe ...
- 151
0
votes
2
answers
253
views
Can someone explain how the argument about Torah being reliable due to blockchain-style transmission of information works?
I've been reading a document on Sefaria which claims the following:
The transmission of the Torah of Moses until today has worked in a blockchain style format, creating a trustworthy ledger of ...
- 1,062
2
votes
3
answers
205
views
Prosecuting for the prohibition of coveting
In the times of the Sanhedrin and when courts existed in Eretz Yisrael, how were people found guilty of violating the commandment, 'לֹא תַחְמֹד בֵּית רֵעֶךָ לֹא תַחְמֹד אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ וְעַבְדּוֹ ...
- 1,201
1
vote
1
answer
71
views
Start of Shabbos
I believe someone asked a question on this site regarding the which day Shabbos starts I.E. Friday night or Shabbos Day.
Some answers quoted machlokes Rishonim that before matan torah Shabbos started ...
- 1,981
1
vote
1
answer
89
views
What happened during Matan Torah and when?
The Rebbe suggested that HaShem was pleased when He came to give them the Torah and saw everyone still sleeping in the early morning. Other sources indicated G-d's wrath: how dare Israelites make G-d ...
- 11
4
votes
2
answers
125
views
Torah as a bar metzra
The Gemara in Shabbos 88b, shows a famous dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and the melachim, when Moshe ascended to the Heavens, after Matan Torah.
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ...
- 11.7k
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
Parashas Bamidbar: a preparation for Shavuos
In different sources, it is explained that the sidra of Bamidbar Sinai be read before the holiday of Shavuos. The Netziv, in his introduction to sefer Bamidbar, mentions the fact that Bamidbar is ...
- 11.7k
0
votes
0
answers
58
views
Torah only given to share with others?
Where do Chazal say that Hashem gave the Torah to Klal Yisroel not for ourselves as individuals to learn rather to understand and give over to others?
- 14.8k
1
vote
3
answers
132
views
The Luchos Connected or separate
Were the Luchos two separate stones or were they connected somehow?
If we look at the versers that discuss the tablets it uses plural and singular language
שמות כ״ד:יב
ויאמר יהוה אל משה עלה אלי ההרה ...
- 2,252
0
votes
1
answer
52
views
How many stones of the Luchos were there?
We know there were two sets of tablets that Moshe got. We know that each tablet was double-sided. How many actual side-by-side stones were there in each set? The pictures usually show there were two ...
- 2,252
1
vote
1
answer
86
views
Lo Tirtzach: Kamatz or Patach?
Minchat Shai at the beginning of Shemot 20 describes a version of the text of the Decalogue where the tzadi in the word תרצח has both a kamatz and a patach under it. He explains that the kamatz ...
- 46.7k
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
What happened to the legal decisions of moshe rabenu?
Parshas Yisro, 2nd aliya (ch. 18 verse 13)
וַֽיְהִי֙ מִמָּ֣חֳרָ֔ת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב משֶׁ֖ה לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֤ד הָעָם֙ עַל־משֶׁ֔ה מִן־הַבֹּ֖קֶר עַד־הָעָֽרֶב
It came about on the next day that ...
- 4,703
1
vote
0
answers
89
views
How do Jewish people understand the commandment not to make or worship idols?
The first commandment given to Moses on the mountain is clear and unambiguous. In English it reads "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall ...
- 555
-1
votes
1
answer
217
views
Difference between the First and Second Commandments
In the Ten Commandments, the First Commandment prohibits having false gods. The Second Commandment prohibits making carved images. Is the problem with carved images that they can be worshiped? If so, ...
- 483
5
votes
1
answer
164
views
Who else says the Jews violated the Ten Commandments during the first Temple
I always understood, based on the gemarra in Yoma 9b, that the Jews were guilty of the three cardinal sins during the First Temple period (murder, illicit relations, and idol worship). However, I ...
- 20.2k
3
votes
2
answers
144
views
Maimonides mentioning Esav
I am trying to find a source where Maimonides allegedly says that there are no parts of the Torah that are any holier than the other. That the passages transmitting the Ten Commandments are just as ...
0
votes
1
answer
91
views
All of the Torah contained within the Ten Commandments [duplicate]
I have heard (read?) that all of the Torah is contained within the Aseret HaDibrot. Where is this from?
- 906
2
votes
4
answers
793
views
Are the ten commandments more important than other mitzvot?
I heard this said by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. I doubt that it's correct. Are there mitzvot more important than others? I know that all 613 are contained in them but that doesn't make the 10 more ...
- 745
4
votes
0
answers
71
views
When, how and why did עשרת הדברים turn into עשרת הדברות?
God clearly spoke of עשרת הדברים in the Torah (Exodus.34.28, see also Deut.4.13) or 10.4):
וַיְהִי־שָׁם עִם־ה'אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה... וַיִּכְתֹּב עַל־הַלֻּחֹת אֵת דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית ...
- 28k
-1
votes
2
answers
142
views
Does G-d equate women to objects?
In Exodus 20:14 it reads:
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house: you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife...or his ox or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor’s
Does G-d equate women to ...
- 356
1
vote
2
answers
248
views
Who wrote the second tablets, God or Moshe?
I was reading in the Torah that in one place it says that God wrote the second tablets while other verses says Moshe did Ex 34:27 and Deut 10:1.
What is the explanation to this, since others claim it'...
- 51
0
votes
1
answer
107
views
Does the בְ in לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר only mean against?
Does the בְ in לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר
only mean against or can it mean about with the idea of claiming the innocence of a guilty person as well as accusing an innocent person? Or, maybe ...
- 342