14
with the giving of Decalogue, for the other cases where the people are addressed by God in
Exodus 19-24 are mediated through Moses.
30
Thus, contrary to certain source-critical theories
that takes the Decalogue as a secondary insertion into the narrative,
31
the author of Exod 20:22
assumes the presence of the Decalogue (Exod 20:1-17).
32
This connection to the narrative then affects the interpretation of the next verse "You are
not to make in my case either a god of silver, nor even a god of gold are you permitted to make
for yourselves" (Exod 20:23). This verse, which expands on the Decalogues prohibition of
images (Exod 20:4-5), makes a logical connection between how God revealed himself at Sinai
and how they are to worship him. The logic between Exod 20:22 and 20:23 is as follows:
"Because, as you have seen, I spoke with you as an invisible voice from the sky, I was indicating
to you that no earthly image of me is appropriate." This interpretation is implicit here, but is
made explicit in Deut 4:15-16a "Because you saw no form when Yahweh spoke to all of you on
Horeb from the midst of the fire, be careful that you not act corruptly and make for yourselves an
image."
b. The Slave Laws. Another way in which the laws of Exodus 20-23 relate to the narrative
context is found in the emphasis on slaves. Why, for instance, are the first non-cultic laws of the
book of the covenant about slaves (Exod 21:2-11), and why do slaves get mentioned so often
elsewhere in the laws (Exod 20:10 [Decalogue]; 21:20-21, 26-27, 32; 23:12)? This is not the
case with other ancient Near Eastern law collections. Slave laws end rather than begin the Laws
of Hammurabi (§§278-282), and the Laws of Eshnunna place its most substantial slave laws at
the end (§§49-52). Middle Assyrian laws only rarely deal with slaves at all. Why then this
30
Alexander, "The Composition of the Sinai Narrative," 9.
31
Cf. A. H. McNeile, The Book of Exodus (Westminster Commentaries; London: Methuen,
1908), 114; Hyatt, Exodus, 207.
32
Alexander, "The Composition of the Sinai Narrative," 9.