Explanation: The ten illustrations above depict each of the Ten Commandments, either directly or in respect to a derived concept. The first illustration shows all worship in heaven and earth being directed to the triune God, as would be expected when his creatures had no other god but him. The second illustration shows a broken idol, as is appropriate to the second commandment. The third illustration exalts the name of God, as is appropriate for those who are careful not take the LORD's name in vain. The fourth illustration depicts a form of Sabbath rest, in this case a life dedicated to the things appropriate to Sabbath. The fifth illustration depicts the kind of inter-generational unity (arising from respect for one's parents) for which Native Americans are famous. The sixth illustration depicts the violation of the command which prohibits murder. The seventh illustration depicts a woman who violated the commandment against adultery. The eighth illustration depicts the opposite of a thief -- a man who was honest with money. The ninth illustration depicts an execution brought about by a false witness. The tenth illustration depicts a form of covetousness called envy -- in this case the wish to have the fame of another and to destroy that fame since it cannot be acquired by the covetous person.
     In Exodus 20 the LORD gives the Ten Commandments and begins to give additional laws. (As a side note, Moses did not receive the tablets with the Ten Commandments until chapter 31, after a 40 day visit with the LORD on Mount Sinai). Chapter 20 opens as the LORD introduces himself audibly to the people as "the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (1-2). On that basis, he proceeds to give his laws: the first commandment is "You shall have no other gods before me" (3). In the second commandment, the LORD forbids idol making and idol worship because those who do so forsake God's love (4-6). The third commandment prohibits anyone from taking the LORD's name in vain (7). The fourth commandment commands a day of rest and cessation of work in imitation of God who rested on the seventh day (8-11). The fifth commandment says to honor your father and your mother (12). The sixth commandment forbids murder (13). The seventh commandment forbids adultery (14). The eighth commandment forbids theft (15). The ninth commandment forbids false witness (16). The tenth commandment forbids covetousness (17). The LORD spoke these commandments audibly to the people, and they asked Moses to speak to them instead of God, because they were afraid they might die if they continued to hear God audibly. So the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was (18-21). God then reiterated, to Moses, his prohibition against idolatry; and he commanded that altars be made of earth or of uncut stone without steps leading up to them, lest their nakedness be exposed upon them (22-26).
     The Ten Commandments are called a "covenant" (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13; Deuteronomy 9:9); and they are the foundation of all the other laws of the Bible (the "Old Covenant" and the "New Covenant"). Also, from a literary standpoint they are arranged in a chiastic structure -- a form of parallelism in which a series of statements use similar or contrasting words, phrases, or thoughts in reverse order, with the reversal starting at the at the mid-point of the passage. In the case of the Ten Commandments, the parallelism is based on the area (thought, word, or deed) which is regulated by the commandment. The chiastic order is as follows: (# 1) Thoughts; (# 2) Thoughts; (# 3) Words; (# 4) Deeds; (# 5) Deeds; (# 6) Deeds; (# 7) Deeds; (# 8) Deeds; (# 9) Words; (# 10) Thoughts. The first commandment deals with the heart, as does the last, thus forming a framework for the Ten Commandments in which the condition of the heart determines not only the content of the thoughts, but also one's words and deeds, both of which proceed from the heart (cf., Proverbs 4:23).

     ²² And the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. ²³ You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. ²⁴ An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. ²⁵ If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. ²⁶ And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.'

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