Difference Between Exodus 20 And Deuteronomy 5

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The Decalogue
The Decalogue occurs in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. Even though Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 were from different sources (E and D respectively), the words and sentences were often repeated verbatim. While Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 were nearly identical in text, there are some key distinctions that sets them apart. This distinction is the reason for following the Decalogue. Exodus claims that people will follow it because they aspire to emulate God. In contrast, Deuteronomy states that people will follow it out of fear first and then change their reasoning to be aspirational.
Before these differences are elaborated, it is important to note that the reformed tradition will be used to describe the enumeration of the Decalogue due …show more content…

Moses is the speaker now, and he says that God made a covenant with them at Horeb. Additionally, he says that last time they would not go up the mountain because they were afraid of the fire. Then, Moses repeats the Decalogue to the Israelites, and he explains that they were written on two stone tablets. Here the third commandment differs from Exodus. Instead of Remember the Sabbath, it states “Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy as the Lord your God commanded you.” (Deut 5:12). In comparison, observe has a more commanding connotation. Furthermore, at the end of the first line of the commandment the text adds as “your God commanded you” (Deut. 5:12,). This sets a more domineering tone and implies that the Israelites will not follow unless commanded. Another key distinction occurs when the texts are describing why one must follow the Sabbath commandment. The text reminds the Israelites that they were once slaves in Egypt and that “God brought [them] out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” (Deut 5:15). Here God is guilt-tripping the Israelites into following the Sabbath by reminding them of what God did for them in their relationship. Thus, it seems that in Deuteronomy God is attempting to invoke fear in order to convince the Israelites to follow. Nonetheless, Deuteronomy is not only based on the Israelites following God out of fear. It also states that they will change their reasoning to aspire to be similar to God, like Exodus. For instance, when asked what would they tell their children when asked why they follow the Decalogue, they should say that if we follow it “as he has commanded us, we will be in the right.” (Deut 6:25). This indicates that after they followed out of fear that they changed their reasoning to be aspirational. Moses concludes with how they should follow the commandments

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