The Ten Commandments - division

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1. The Ten Commandments

   Rabbi Yehuda Rock

   The Torah refers to the 'ten' commandments on the two stone tablets - but the division and identification is not explicit. This lesson will offer three divisions based on the Mesorah, and a fourth suggestion for dividing the commandments into ten.

2. How to Divide the Ten Commandments

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   The Ten Commandments are maybe the best-known of all Jewish laws. They are perceived widely as a universal code of ethics. Within Judaism, they are one of the most prominent symbols of the faith. This article investigates certain aspects of this group of laws, namely, their unusual format and their unique message of the two different ways of approaching God. 

3. Study Questions on the Ten Commandments

   On Shavuot we commemorate Matan Torah and our receiving of the Ten Commandments. While most of us have a general idea as to the composition of this famous Decalogue, Tikun Leil Shavuot is a great opportunity to explore, in a little more depth, what each of these commandments entails. Are there really ten? How might the commandments be divided? Are there any discrepancies between the listing of the commandments in Shmot vs. in Dvarim? Below are some guiding questions to help you get started. For more in-depth study, please see these articles on the topic of the Ten Commandments. 

4. Ten Commandments Study Guide

   HaTanakh.com Staff

   Use the text below to answer the following questions. You can find a printable PDF version of the text attached. 

   1. Take a look at the blue highlighted words which are found in the first two commandments (verses 2-6). What is the difference between these commandments and the rest?

    

   Look at Exodus 20:15 and Rashi’s commentary on Exodus 19:19. How can these sources help us understand this difference?

    

   2. Count the number of commandments that you find in the text. Are there really only 10? Where does the traditional phrase of “Ten Commandments” come from?

    

   Look at Deuteronomy 4:13. How might we more accurately describe the “Ten Commandments” according to this verse? How is the phrase עשרת הדברים translated? Does it necessarily have to mean “commandments”?

    

   We can conclude that there are ten STATEMENTS, and each could contain within it more than one commandment.

    

   [The Sefer HaChinuch enumerates 15 separate commandments, 25-38; 416]

    

   Take a look at the green highlighted words. How many negative commandments can you count? How are they divided between both tablets? (the red dotted line marks the separation between the two tablets)

    

   3. One of the most popular opinions regarding the division of the commandments holds that the first tablet contains the commandments between man and God, while the second tablet contains the commandments between man and fellow man. Look at the yellow and purple highlighted words. What can we infer about the theme of each tablet? Does it support this claim? 

   

5. Structure and Meaning in the Ten Commandments

   Rabbi Alex Israel | Hour and 11 minutes

   How many commandments are included in the Aseret Hadibrot? How can they be divided? An analysis of the structure of the Ten Commandments, as well as its comparison with Ancient Near East treaties allows us to gain deeper insights into the messages of the Ten Commandments and the meaning of a personal connection with God. 

6. The Ten Commandments: Twelve Prohibitions

   Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun

   How many prohibitions are there in the Ten Commandments? Most people mistakenly believe that there are seven prohibitions. We explore the idea that there are six prohibitions in the first and second tablets, making up twelve. We explore the significance of the "six" and "twelve" numerical structures here and elsewhere in the Torah, and examine the differences between the first and second Tablets.

7. Va'etchanan: Seeing Layers in the Ten Commandments

   Rabbi David Fohrman |

   We've seen the text of the Ten Commandments so many times, but how does the Torah pack so much meaning into so few words? In this parsha video, Rabbi Fohrman shows us how the Torah layers meaning into the Ten Commandments, giving us a sample of the subtleties of the Torah.

    

   If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.