I’ve been told that it wasn’t until Philo of Alexandria that the Decalogue was coined “the Ten Commandments.” Thus, as we search through the scripture in search of Ten Commandments’ moments, we do so with no expectation that biblical figures would reference the Decalogue in that fashion. Thus, we put on our detective caps and explore the scripture to find that phrases such as Torah and Commandments are often used when making a general reference to the law within the Pentateuch. This post will explore a revealing Ten Commandments’ moment from the Book of Hosea.
A passage from the Book of Hosea offers up the need for a query. The detective work, however, is more for the likes of an Encylopedia Brown than a Sherlock Holmes.
In Hosea, there is the following passage: “Hear the words of Hashem, O Children of Israel! For Hashem has grievance with the inhabitants of the land, for there is no truth nor kindness nor knowledge of God in the land. [Rather,] swearing, lying, murdering, robbing and adultery…” Hosea 4:12.
This passage references specific commandments. All of them-swearing [using the Lord’s name in vain], lying, murdering, robbing and adultery- are contained in the Ten Commandments. Thus, this passage strongly suggests that Hosea’s author was aware of the contents of the Ten Commandments.
When comparing Hosea’s passage to the actual Exodos 20, Ten Commandments, we notice two things. First, the Hosea passage involves only five commandments. Second, the Hosea passage is not in the same order as the in Decalogue. Thus, three questions emerge for discussion: “why were not all the commandments listed?” “why are they out of order?” and “why is coveting not part of the string?”
Another issue raised by this string is that it makes the notion of breaking the commandments up into two sets of five for instruction questionably. The reason being that it does not necessarily depict the commandments properly. The prohibition against using the Lord’s name in vain apparently carried with it a value with respect to human-human transactions. Individuals in antiquity are depicted as relying upon one’s word (with the heightened trustworthiness by inclusion of the Lord’s name) for the purposes of individual transactions and guarantees.
The Book of Joshua references a variety of this moments documenting how swearing played a big role i.e. with the spies at the City of Jericho with the and with the Gibeonites, in which interactions involved existential matters. This concept is foreign to people in modernity. In the United States, there is contract law and a judicial system which has the power to enforce matters. Thus, there is little need or concern to raise the Lord’s name with respect to transactions. One can argue that in antiquity, the employment of the name “made things happen.”
In sum, without even the need for a magnifying glass or a pipe, we are able to clearly see that the Hosea’s author was aware of the contents of the Decalogue. While the individual was not aware of the label “the Ten Commandments” as it was likely coined long after by Philo of Alexandria who lived at the end of last century BCE and into the first century CE. Likewise, we learn, for the sake of prophesy, that not all of commandments were out in epic rants to awaken souls. Rather, in the apt moment of decrying conduct, specificity was employed. Elementary, my good friend, elementary.
Be well!!
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The Ten Commandments Project 