God spake. Hebrew. Elohim: hence of universal application. Compare Hebrews 1.Deuteronomy 4:12.Hebrews 12:26. Not Jehovah, for this title would have limited the law to Israel. See App-4, and note on Exodus 6:2.
all these words. It has been asserted that there are three strata of laws in the Pentateuch (1) The Prophetic code. Exodus. 20-23 and Exodus 34:17-20.
(2) The Priest code. Rest of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.
(3) The Deuteronomy code.
But the Structures of these books, displayed above, show that these were all in perfect order, spoken "at sundry times and in divers manners. "
The Ten Commandments divided by Christ into two [tables], Duty to God and Neighbour (Matthew 22:37-40). Divided by man into four and six. By Roman Catholics (in their Catechism) the second is joined to the first, and the tenth is divided into two. But this is impossible: see the Structure of Commandment. on Exodus 20:17.
The Structure of the whole divides them into. + 5, the number of Grace. See App-10, and p. John 1:17, "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ", which, by the Figure of speech, Hendiadys (App-6). "true grace". For there was grace in the law, seeing no other nation was favoured with it. Moreover, the first five are linked together by the words "the LORD thy God", the second five by the word "Thou".
saying. The Ten Commandments begin, therefore, with Exodus 20:2. See App-39.