The Ten Commandments

From Aryez

Book 19 of the Marfat

19: The Ten Commandments

1. Long ago in some faraway deserts, God

2. spoke to His prophet Moses and gave

3. him the ten eternal Commandments:

4. 1) I am the Lord, your God, 2) Worship

5. no God but me, 3) Do not worship

6. any idol, 4) Do not take my name in vain, 5) Observe

7. a holy day in my honor, 6) Respect your

8. father and mother, 7) Do not murder,

9. 8) Do not commit adultery, the murder of the heart, 9) Do not

10. steal and do not accuse someone falsely, and

11. 10) Do not covet what is not yours. These laws

12. are eternal and apply to all people at all times

13. in all cultures. These is the only demand your

14. Lord makes of you. Some of the people of

15. Moses did not believe the Lord. They cried:

16. “Give us proof of the power of God!”

17. Hearing this, God commanded the people

18. to observe a mountain. God then revealed

19. his true self to that mountain which then crumbled

20. into dust, for so great was God’s presence.

21. The people, awed, bowed down in worship.

22. Such is the power of the Lord.

Commentary: This book lists the ten commandments God gave Moses (in Aralan, a prophet). Aralan considers these commandments true and applicable to any age. Although similar to their biblical counterparts, these commandments are not exactly the same. Commandment one declares that God exists. Commandments two and three declare that God is the only God and thus only God can be worshiped. Commandment four states that God’s name should not be used unless meant. Commandment five’s message is self evident [in Aralan, it is up to the worshiper to decide which day to honor God]. Commandment six tells us to respect our parents and its meaning can be extended to say that one must respect all the people who care for and provide for one. Commandment seven tells us not to intentionally kill for gain [killing a soldier in war is an exception]. Commandment eight tells us not to commit adultery because it is emotional murder. Commandment nine forbids us from stealing (taking what is not ours), which applies to both material goods and emotional goods. It also tells us not to lie [this can be waived if the lie is a good lie that will cause more good than evil]. A joke is not a lie. However, anything intentionally said that is not true is a lie. To lie in order to threaten someone is especially wrong. The tenth commandment tells us not to desire what is not ours [that is the specific property of someone else; this does not mean one cannot desire a certain material good from a store]. The book ends with a story of God’s power.