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This class involves further discussion of the Ten Commandments, and specifically the last two:

• Do not act as a lying witness
• Do not covet your neighbor’s household:…

Exodus 20 (JPS)

13Thou shalt not murder.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

(d) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 

14Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Exodus 20 (NIV)

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Howdy folks!  In this class we continue discussing what it can mean “to bear false witness” and how we can apply this to our lives.  If you have any questions, comments, or disagreements – share your thoughts below.  Thanks!

Exodus 20 (JPS)

13Thou shalt not murder.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

 

Exodus 20 (NIV):

13“You shall not murder.
14“You shall not commit adultery.
15“You shall not steal.
16“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

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We pick up from our last class and continue our discussion on “No Stealing”.  We talk about different forms of theft and how to prevent it.  And then we begin discussing the next part of the 8th or 9th commandment, depending on how your religion numbers them.

Exodus Ch. 20 (JPS)

13Thou shalt not murder.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Exodus Ch. 20 (NIV)

13“You shall not murder.

14“You shall not commit adultery.

15“You shall not steal.

16“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

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In this class we continue our discussion on the commandment “No Adultery” and then move into discussing “No Stealing.”  Below are the relevant verses and varied numbering.

Exodus Ch. 20 (JPS)

13Thou shalt not murder.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Exodus Ch. 20 (NIV)

13“You shall not murder.
14“You shall not commit adultery.
15“You shall not steal.

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Okay so this is where we find problems with verse numbers yet again.  In the Jewish Publication Society version (JPS) this verse is a continuation of 20:13.  However, in the NIV, KJV, and the most popular versions around this verse  of the Ten Commandments (“No Adultery”) is listed as a separate numeric verse, 20:14.

Here is the verse:

Exodus 20:13b or 20:14

לא תנאף׃

“No Adultery” (second person imperative)

or

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Below I’ve included the outline for the class that day, a rare occurrence:

20:14 no adultery לא תנאף׃

7^th commandment 

1. Adultery defined:
   1. Only with married woman (Rashi)

                                               i.     True to patriarchal society

                                              ii.     Unmarried woman cannot

                                            iii.     Married or unmarried man can

1. More about this later
2. Why next after Murder?
   1. Murder will destroy society
   2. Adultery will destroy the family: which will kill society

                                               i.     Family is building block of society

1. Torah & 10 NOT preoccupied with SEX.
   1. Lust no issue
   2. Premarital sex no issue

                                                                                                     i.     This comes later w/ NT

1. Whose Responsible:
   1. Both parties
   2. Punishment:

                                               i.     Death (stoning)

1. 2 eye witnesses (good standing)
2. had to be warned  immediately prior to act
3. temple exist
4. Sanhedrin exist
5. Compared to Others:
   1. N.E. laws Husband could nullify the offense (not prosecute)

                                               i.     Wife is sole property of Husband

                                              ii.     He has total say on her outcome

                                            iii.     Considered “great  sin” in Gen. (Av/Sar and Avimelech)

1. NOT in Judaism

                                               i.     Offense to Husband

                                              ii.     Offense to God

                                            iii.     Offense to Society (family, community, religion)

1. Permission to Adulterate: open marriage
   1. Still Transgression
   2. Still punished
   3. Patriarchy?
      1. Man takes possession of woman (purchase)

                                               i.     Woman wears ring (betrothal)

1. Children

                                               i.     No doubt who mother is

                                              ii.     If adulterous tremendous doubt who father is

1. Man could have multiple wives

                                               i.     Generate more family

1. Patriarchy or Matriarchy or Egalitarian

                                               i.     Patriarchy: unfair to women but good for children

                                              ii.     Matriarchy: no significant existence

                                            iii.     Egalitarian: fair but poor consequence to both sexes & seems not good for children

1. Male / female different and equal
2. Men don’t marry.
3. Men don’t father.
4. Tremendous divorce.
5. Male Sexual Nature:
   1. Variety
   2. Can be Meaningless & Masturbatory experience

                                               i.     Versus Female sexual nature:

                                              ii.     Versus Female Relations (social intercourse)

1. Prefer husband have intimate lunch with female coworker or one night at a massage parlour?
2. So is it eternally binding? (as defined)
   1. How is it applied today?

                                               i.     Adultery applies to both Husband and Wife TODAY:

1. Child: Today child belongs to MOTHER.
2. Marriage: No polygamy allowed ( so man must divorce to get marry another woman)
3. Social Intercourse: Modern Work-Place

                                              ii.     Adultery is NOT strictly sexual (many passions counter to sanctity of bond)

1. Work
2. Sports
3. Friends
4. Family
5. Children

                                          

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FYI: This audio was featured in Ultimate Issues 027.  Original air date was Nov. 21, 2013 on my Ultimate Issues Podcast.

This was an interesting class (if I can be so bold as to call my own class interesting.)   Due to other events happening in the community we had a small group attend and we were able to simply discuss some important issues.  We had briefly mentioned euthanasia and other variations on killing and/or murder in previous classes (TMT 044 and 045).  So I was determined to open the class up to discussing difficult issues like euthanasia, suicide, and other end of life issues that many of will deal with at one time or another.  I think it is vital we openly discuss these areas of life and how they pertain to the ethical mandates that come from God.  It is my belief that if we don’t think about the big issues in life and then we will have difficulty thinking clearly about the smaller issues in life.

 

We cover a lot of ground but we didn’t often come up with great solutions.  Often, these scenarios are highly nuanced and require the expertise of a qualified rabbi, priest, minister, or someone of the like who is trained in this area of life/death to help us determine what is RIGHT. 

With out a doubt, it can difficult and confusing for most people to determine what is the right, moral thing to do in these scenarios.

Here are some of the questions and ideas discussed:

Is euthanasia murder?

Is suicide murder?

Is assisted suicide murder?

If someone has a DNR is that a form of suicide?

If someone has a mental illness that “causes” him to kill another person, is he still deemed a murderer?

To what extent, and in what situations are military or police permitted to kill, and when (if ever) does it become murder?

How can we prevent murders?

 

If you have any thoughts, questions, or arguments you would like to contribute please do so below in the comment area.  Thank you

– See more at: http://ultimateissues.com/ui-027-a-discussion-on-euthanasia-suicide-and-other-difficult-end-of-life-issues/#sthash.oi1qj4Ol.dpuf

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The commandment prohibiting murder needed further discussion, so in the next weeks class we continued discussing Exodus 20:13 “Do Not Murder.”  In this class we largely discuss the question “Why is murder wrong?”

This class was featured in an Ultimate Issues episode (UI 026).

Subjects pertain to:

Q: Why are there explanations and consequences for the first five commandment, but not the second five?

A: The first five largely pertain to the holiness code and relate to the Man – God relationship.  Therefore, you should have the right intent and mindset regarding these commands (ie. God cares about your intent when you are addressing Him.) But, the second five are ethical principles and relate to the Man – Man relationship.  Hence, whether or not you know why you do what you do, and regardless of your intentions, really all that matters is the deed in regards to ethics.  No one cares why you don’t steal, they just care that you don’t.

Rituals done without reasons are largely useless.

Ethics done without reasons are beautiful.

~ Dennis Prager

Q: To whom does “Murder” pertain? (ex. human, animal, plant, bacteria, artificial intelligence, etc.)e

A:  Murder pertains only to humans.  Animals, plants, and any other “beings” cannot be murdered, only killed.  The moral dilemmas with murder pertain only to mankind.  If “murder” refers to other sentient life, then can any distinction be made between the value of human life and other life?  The Torah is clear that only Man was made in the Divine image, and hence should not be defiled or murdered (as it would be a form of desecrating of the Divine image.)

Q: Why is murder wrong?

A: Here are links to Dennis Prager’s articles read in the class:

Why is Murder Wrong? (part 1)

Is Murder Wrong? (progressive dialogue part 2)

 

Torah Reasons for not Murdering:

• Human Life is Sacred
  • In and of itself Human life is of supreme value.
    • Taking it necessitates the ultimate consequence (capital punishment).
    • You USURP God’s place when you deliberate take a human life.
    • You are extinguishing God’s image
      • Man vs. Animal (no one murders a cow or flower or bacteria)
      • Genesis 4:10 “the voice of your brother’s bloods cry out from the ground”
        • קול דמי אחיך צעקים אלי מן האדמה
        • The Murderer denies all the lives that would have been created or touched by the one he murders.

 

– See more at: http://ultimateissues.com/ui-026-why-is-murder-wrong-the-6th-commandment-continued/#sthash.qF9JCrIW.dpuf

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So grateful to be back and healthy!  This week we pick up were I left off and it’s just one verse.  Exodus chapter 20 verse 13.  Yep, that is it.  Since it’s such a short simple verse, I figured I would use it to illustrate the difficulty in translation by showing various translations and the original Hebrew.

 

Exodus 20:13

Original Hebrew, my transliteration, and my translation:

לא תרצח (Lo tirtzach) “(You[sing.]) No murder”

New International Version
“You shall not murder.

King James Bible
“Thou shalt not kill.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Do not murder. 

International Standard Version
“You are not to commit murder.

GOD’S WORD® Translation
“Never murder.

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I am back!  Sorry for the temporary hiatus.   Moving, construction, illness, and a holiday made last week temporally challenging.  So we are picking up this week.  This week we cover Exodus Chapter 20 verse 12.  Yes, one verse.  But it’s an interesting verse.  Let’s check it out.

Exodus 20:12 (NIV)

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Pretty straight forward right?  Yes, and there all kinds of implications and inference we can draw from this.  So thats what we discuss.

Thanks for listening and God willing I’ll continue next week.

And in the meantime… Go Study Torah!

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We are still covering the commandment regarding Shabbat and work in this class.  I go a little more in depth with Cassuto and Heschel commentary.

Then we begin discussing verse 12.  This commandment will be followed up in the next segment of TMT.

Exodus Ch. 20 (NIV):

8“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.