As the law given on Sinai and written on two tables of stone, is repeatedly called in the Scriptures " The Ten Words," or, as it is in the English version of Exodus xxxiv. 28, " The Ten Com- mandments, " there is no doubt that the contents of that law are to be divided into ten distinct precepts. (See Deut. iv. 13, and x. 4.) This summary of moral duties is also called in Scripture " The Covenant," as containing the fundamental principles of the solemn contract between God and his chosen people. Still more frequently it is called " The Testimony," as the attestation of the will of God concerning human character and conduct.
The decalogue appears in two forms which differ slightly from each other. The original form is found in Exodus the twentieth chapter ; the other in Deuteronomy v. 6-21. The principal differ- ences between them are, first, that the command respecting the Sabbath is in Exodus enforced by a reference to God's resting on the seventh day, after the work of creation ; whereas in Deuteron- omy it is enforced by a reference to God's delivering his people out of Egypt. Secondly, in the command respecting coveting, in Exodus, it is said, " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife," etc. In both clauses the word is ^vsn- In Deuteronomy it is, " Neither shalt thou de- sire (112T1) thy neighbour's wife ; neither shalt thou covet (rns) thy neighbour's house," etc. This latter difference has been magnified into a matter of importance.
The Scriptures themselves determine the number of the com- mandments, but not in all cases what they are. They are not