The Five Human Values

The commandments apart of the second table addresses five human values: human life, family, freedom, justice, and property. Many scholars compare the second Decalogue as a bill of rights because of those values it expresses. In order to understand the commandments, you must also understand while gathering some knowledge of the time and culture it was written in. I will discuss the five values based on priority of importance valued by the Israelite people. The fourth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God has commanded you, so that you may have long life and prosper in the land that Yahweh your God gives to you.” served as a basic law within Israel. Many biblical scholars fail to realize that this commandment does

This commandment was not in relevance with a physical object, it was pertaining to human relationship. The commandment should read “Thou shall not steal a man or woman,” “Thou shalt not steal any man from thy neighbor.” The primary focus of this commandment prohibits kidnapping the free Israelite. This values human freedom; a man’s right to be free was sacred in Israel and its protection was ordained by LORD himself.
The eighth commandment “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” simply says you cannot lie on another man, especially if called to testify for another Israelite man. The sentencing of the accused was based on two testimonies of the witnesses and so it was very important and the basis of their legal system. This serves under the value of justice for an Israelite’s reputation and autonomy. The ninth and tenth commandment was combined because they both acknowledge property rights. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, you shall not set your heart on his house, his field, his servant –man or woman—his ox, his donkey, or anything that is his.” During this biblical time, the wife was considered property to her husband, so in order to understand this commandment you must understand that this was a cultural norm. This commandment strictly prohibits confiscation of what belongs to another individual, whether it is his wife or his belongings. This commandment