Exodus 20:22-26 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Exodus 20:22-26 E. Laws of Worship. This begins the Book of the Covenant, a small collection of religious and moral laws. The reference to God as talking with the people from heaven (Exodus 20:22 b) was probably added after the insertion of the Decalogue. In Exodus 20:23 the pl. ye shows that this was not part of the Horeb book, in which thou is used. The RV seems to be right (against LXX) in making Exodus 20:23 a a doublet of Exodus 20:3. Perhaps it ran, Ye shall not serve (make) along with me other (silver) gods. In any case, it is over-costly images only that are forbidden. The rules for the rude altar of earth or stone (Exodus 20:24-26) reflect primitive usage (cf. 1 Samuel 14:32-35 *), imply the right of laymen to sacrifice (cf. 2 Samuel 6:13; 2 Samuel 6:17), and refer only to the two oldest and commonest kinds of sacrifice (cf. Exodus 24:5, and pp. 98f., 197f.). Moreover, such an altar may be set up wherever Yahweh may cause His Name to be remembered (24 mg.), i.e. by a vision, a victory, or other gracious act (p. 130). Stones were to be unhewn (Exodus 20:25), from old custom (cf. Exodus 4:25 *. Joshua 8:31 *) or from the survival of a prejudice against risking driving away the deity by altering the shape of the natural rock. Steps were (Exodus 20:26) not allowed, in the interests of decency (cf. a different provision in Exodus 28:42).