 |
Hearing of the miracles G-d performed
for Bnei Yisrael,
Moshe's father- in-law Yitro arrives with Moshe's
wife and sons,
reuniting the family in the wilderness.
Yitro is so impressed by Moshe's
detailing of the Exodus
from Egypt that he converts and joins the Jewish People.
Seeing that the only judicial authority for the entire
Jewish nation is Moshe
himself, Yitro suggests that subsidiary judges be
appointed to adjudicate
the smaller matters, leaving Moshe free to attend to
larger issues.
Moshe accepts his advice.
The Bnei Yisrael arrive at
Mt. Sinai where the Torah is offered to them.
After they accept, G-d charges Moshe to
instruct the people not to
approach the mountain, and to prepare themselves for three days in order
to
receive the Torah. On the third day, amidst thunder and lightning,
G-d's
voice emanates from the smoke-enshrouded mountain and He
speaks to the
Jewish People, giving to them the Ten Commandments:
1. Believe in G-d
2. Don't have other gods
3. Don't use G-d's name in vain
4. Observe the Shabbos
5. Honor your parents
6. Don't murder
7. Don't commit adultery
8. Don't kidnap
9. Don't testify falsely
10. Don't covet
After receiving the first two commandments, the Jewish
People,
overwhelmed by this experience of the Divine, request that Moshe
relay
G-d's word to them. G-d
instructs Moshe to caution the Jewish
People regarding their responsibility to be faithful to the
One who spoke to them. |
 |