Reading the Bible: Exodus, Episode 5

Receiving the Plates of Covenant; Agreement with God

this chapter is really important and has a lot of commandments. it is divided into two main sections. one is a 40 days and nights that Moshe spent on the mountain, receiving about 50 commandments and social-behavioral rules from God. the second part consisted a time on the mountain where God created the 2 famous stone boards, with the commandments written on it, and gave it to Moshe to be kept for all times.

​This chapter people of Israel receive the 10 commandments from god directly, while speaking with Moshe.

A huge cloud of rain and thunder stays above mount Sinai, and voices come out of it. the people ask Moshe to talk to god without them, fearing him, knowing that he did all those things to the Egyptians. Fearing he will do similar to them.

This fear, from a much more powerful being, is something that we don’t have today.

These chapters, where god is really in the presence, are times when people really had a chance to believe and follow.

Itro advises Moshe to improve the management system

As we remember, Moshe left the father of his wife in Egypt, while leading the Israelites into the desert. Itro now comes to meet his daughter and grandkids. They speak about the events, and later on, he advises Moshe to change the way he runs this community of 600.000 people. For every 10 people place a manager, who could organize disputes among those. If the matter is bigger, let them address it higher ranked. this arrangement freed Moshe to handle only serious questions.