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God generally commands death for disobedient children, although with luck, they may get off with a beating.
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” [Exo 20: 12]
“And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.” [Exo 21: 15]
“And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” [Exo 21: 17]
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”[Prov 22:15]
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” “Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” [Prov 23: 13-14]
God dealt with children that were teasing his prophet Elisha.
“And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.” “And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.” [2 Kings 2:23-24]
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God gave over six hundred commandments to Moses; the popular ones (ten; in order), and some of the more interesting ones, are listed below.
Christians decided to follow only the first ten commandments, and consider the rest as the Law; which only pertains to Jews. This view is not supported by the Bible:
“And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.” “And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.” “And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.” “And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;” “Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.” “And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.” “Ye have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God.” [Lev 24: 16-22]
(Jesus) “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot of one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” [Matt 5: 17-18]
“If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:” “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” [James 2: 8-10]
The Ten:
1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” [Exo 20: 3]
“He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.” [Exo 22: 20]
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God;” [Exo 34: 14]
"Thou shalt have none other gods before me." [Deut 5: 7]2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” [Exo 20: 4]
“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God” [Lev 26: 1]
"Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female," "The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air," "The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:" [Deut 4: 16-18]
"Thou shalt not make 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 waters beneath the earth:" [Deut 5: 8]3. “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.” [Exo 20: 7][Deut 5: 11]
4. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:” “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:” [Exo 20: 8-10]
"Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee." "Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:" "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou." [Deut 5: 12-14]
“Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.” “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” [Exo 31: 14-15]
“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.” “Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.” [Exo 35: 2-3]
“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.” “And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.” [Num 15: 32, 35]5. “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” [Exo 20: 12]
"Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." [Deut 5: 16]
“And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.” [Exo 21: 15]
“And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” [Exo 21: 17]
“For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.” [Lev 20: 9]6. “Thou shalt not kill.” [Exo 20: 13][Deut 5: 17]
“He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.” [Exo 21: 12]7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” [Exo 20: 14]
"Neither shalt thou commit adultery." [Deut 5: 18]
“And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” [Lev 20: 10]
"If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel." [Deut 22: 22]
“It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:” “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” [Matt 5: 31-32]
“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” [Matt 19: 9]8. “Thou shalt not steal.” [Exo 20: 15]
"Neither shalt thou steal." [Deut 5: 19]
“If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” “If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.” [Exo 22: 1-2]9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” [Exo 20: 16]
"Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor." [Deut 5: 20]10. “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.” [Exo 20: 17]
"Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's." [Deut 5: 21]
Although God commands death for killing another person (slaves, enemies, and non-Jews excluded), he does not consider an unborn child as a person. The violent termination of a foetus is a crime against the husband, but not a murder of a human being, which would be punishable by death.
“If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.” [Exo 21: 22]
Other notable commandments:
“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,” “Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” [Exo 21: 24-25] * for exceptions, see following section on slaves.
“If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.” “But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.” “If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.” [Exo 21: 28-30] *note the different rules for people with money.
“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” [Exo 22: 18]
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord.” [Lev 19: 31]
“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” [Lev 20: 27]“Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.” [Exo 22: 19]
“Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.” [Lev 18: 23]“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” [Lev 18: 22]
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” [Lev 20: 13]“Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.” “If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;” “And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” [Exo 22: 22-24]
“If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.” [Exo 22: 25]
“Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.” [Exo 22: 28]
“And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.” [Exo 23: 8]
“And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:” “But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.” [Exo 23: 10-11]
“Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.” [Lev 19: 19]
“...Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.” [Lev 17: 14]
“Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.” “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” [Lev 19: 27-28]
“The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.” [Lev 18: 8]
“And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” [Lev 20: 11]
“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.” [Lev 18: 16]
“And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.” [Lev 20:12]
“And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.” [Lev 20: 14]
“And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.” [Lev 20: 17]Some commandments for priests:
“They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.” [Lev 21: 5]
“And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.” [Lev 21: 9]
“And he shall take a wife in her virginity.” “A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.” [Lev 21: 13-14]
“For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,” “Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,” “Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;” “No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.” [Lev 21: 18-21]
Many commandments pertained to slaves (which God, and Jesus, considered a normal part of life). It is interesting that God applies one set of rules for masters, and a different set for the slaves.
“If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.” “If he came in by himself*, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.” “If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.” [Exo 21: 2-4] {*original text: “with his body”} Note: the slave had the option of staying with his family, but he was then committed to slavery forever, and was marked, with a hole through his ear, as a slave.
“And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.” [Exo 21: 7]
“And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.” [Exo 21: 16]
“And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.” “Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.” [Exo 21: 20-21]
“And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.” “And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.” [Exo 21: 26-27]
“And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.” “If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.” [Exo 22: 16-17]
“And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.” “And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.” “And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.” [Lev 19: 20-22]
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