The Decalogue | HDYRI Newsletter #83
Week of 5/30/25
Last week in Episode 89 - Arrival at Sinai - Exodus 19, God reminds the Israelites of His mighty works in Egypt and His future plans for them, if only they will obey. God is about to descend in cloud and fire to instruct the Israelites through Moses, and they must not touch the mountain as they will surely die. We discussed some readings of the reason for this death and ended with a reflection on Moses’ love for and faith in the Israelites to do God’s word.
This week in Episode 90 - The Decalogue - Exodus 20, God gives Moses His words, the Ten Commandments, by which the Israelites know how to relate to God and to one another. We lay the trajectory for our conversation and focus on the logic of the commandments, reading them to understand what God teaches about relationship and the ordering of the cosmos, about anti-idolatry and desire.
Episode 90 teaser:
Until next time!
If you are interested in digging deeper on your own, here are a few resources:
Ancient Christian reading practices:
Biblical Exegesis and the Formation of Christian Culture
Medieval exegesis:
Medieval Exegesis: The Four Senses of Scripture, Vol. 1
Medieval Exegesis : The Four Senses of Scripture, Vol. 2
Second Temple Judaism:
Two Gods in Heaven: Jewish Concepts of God in Antiquity
Torah with Rabbinic Commentary:
Bereishis Genesis, Part I and II, ArtScroll Tanach Series, Translation with Commentary
Mythological:
Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic: Essays in the History of the Religion of Israel
Literary approach:
René Girard