The Ten Commandments or “Ten Words” Dr. Charles M. Rix Oklahoma Christian University Austin Graduate School of Theology Spring

Necessary Interruption

The Flow of Exodus ChapterSubject 1-2The Birth of Moses 3-4The Call of Moses 5-11Contest with Pharaoh 12-13Passover 14-15The Exodus / Song of Moses / Miriam 16-19In the Wilderness / Preparation for giving the law 20The Ten Commandments (or Ten Words) 21-23Book of the Covenant 24Reading of the law 25-31Instructions for the Tabernacle 32-34The Golden Calf Episode 35-40The Tabernacle built

The “new” identity To you there are no other gods No idols No lifting up the name of YHWH to emptiness Remember the Sabbath and keep it separate (holy) Honor Father and Mother No murder No stealing No adultery No bearing false witness Do not covet

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

The “stop” day Remember the stop-day, and keep it separate. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a stop-day to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord make heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the stop-day and mare it separate.

Time: Business as usual The “ TOTALITY ” of the Honor and Shame System Males: –protection of property –Maintaining control over women ’ s sexuality Women: –maintenance of sexual purity –Ability of women ’ s family (men) to protect her sexuality

Women –Non-property owning males –Foreigners / aliens –Wives of property owning males –Unmarried women –Children not yet of marrying age -Orphans -The “ handicapped ” YHWH Time: Business as usual Other To Be Seen Property Owning Males

Women –Non-property owning males –Foreigners / aliens –Wives of property owning males –Unmarried women –Children not yet of marrying age -Orphans -The “ handicapped ” YHWH Time: Business as usual “ Here I am ” : The face of YHWH ” Property Owning Males Here I am

The “ Other(s) ” “ Here I am ” Self “ Here I am ” YHWH “ Here I am ” Time: Business as usual The Decalogue: Towards an Ethic of Disruption Sabbath: the disrupting event Sabbath

Women –Non-property owning males –Foreigners / aliens –Wives of property owning males –Unmarried women –Children not yet of marrying age -Orphans -The “ handicapped ” YHWH Time: Business as usual “ Here I am ” : The face of the Other Property Owning Males Here I am Sabbath

Towards an “ Ethic of Disruption ” Facing “ The Other ” in Responsibility You shall have no other gods [before my face]. You shall not make yourself images. You shall not lift up the name of Yahweh to emptiness Honor your father and your mother. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor ’ s wife / house. YHWH OTHER Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy

On the stop-day An interruption of the “daily grind” Everyone rests from performance in social roles Remembering what God had done Enactment of the “new identity”

The “heart” of a new identity You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. (22:21) You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. (23:9)