TMT 047: Exodus 20:13b or 20:14 (No Adultery)

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Thou shalt not commit adultery (Nathan confronts David); bronze bas-relief on the door of the Madeleine Place de La Madeleine, Paris.
1837
Baron Henri de Triqueti (1803-1874)
Courtesy WikiMedia Commons

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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