Moses and the 10 commandments

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Was the first set of tablets that Moses broke the same as the second set of tablets that contained the 10 commandments? I guess that this question cannot be answered with certainty, but its a great thought that we should think about. I suspect that the tablets were indeed different.
 
The two sets of stone tablets containing the 10 Commandments were the same. Deuteronomy 10:1-4 "At that time the LORD said to me, Hew two tables of stone like thefirst, and come up to me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which you broke and you shall put them in the ark.’ …And he wrote on the tables, as at the first writing, the tencommandments which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me.

I find it interesting that before God carved the 10 Commandments in stone, He first spoke His commandments to the people. It was these spoken Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17; see also Deut 5:1-22) that were subsequently carved on the first stone tablets
Deut 5:22 “These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly …And He wrote them upon two tables of stone, and gave them to me.”

Here are some selected Scripture passages if you want just to follow the story of the giving of the Commandments (orally first, and then the 2 different stone tablets)
Ex 19:9 thru 20:19; Ex 24:12-18; Ex 31:18; Ex 32:15-19; Ex 34:1-2 and 28-29
 
Nelka said:
I have heard both sides to this so… 🍿
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Perhaps you’re thinking of some of the other regulations that changed as a result of the sins of the Israelites. I believe there were some changes in those regulations (eg. who could be the priests), but not in the actual 10 Commandments carved on the tablets.
 
The two tables of the Law follow the formula of a Suzerain Contract where a King makes a contract with His people. The two tables are identical. One to be given tot he people as Law, the other to be kept for the records of the King. Moses breaking the tables is his way of showing the people that the covenant has been broken.

God Bless
 
bogeydogg said:
The two tables of the Law follow the formula of a Suzerain Contract where a King makes a contract with His people. The two tables are identical. One to be given tot he people as Law, the other to be kept for the records of the King. Moses breaking the tables is his way of showing the people that the covenant has been broken.

God Bless
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True. In Ancient Near Eastern covenants it was common for the parties involved to each have a copy of the treaty, which each party would keep (usually deposited in a temple under the feet of the gods). Because of the covenant between God and Israel, it was apparently natural that each party’s respective copy of the Covenant (the two Tablets of the Law) be kept within the Ark of the Covenant, Yhwh’s portable throne/footstool/processional litter, under the His Presence.
 
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