Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Joel:

I have seen three, not two, different numbering systems. Two are based
on the presupposition that the ten statements are all commands, the
third on the teaching that the first statement is an introductory
statement of a covenant followed by nine commands. Seeing as the Torah
itself claims that it is a covenant ברית in the verses that Peter
mentioned, as well as Jeremiah 31:31 ff, I favor the third numbering
system. The two assuming ten commands are differing interpretations on
how to make ten out of nine.

Karl W. Randolph.

On 1/26/07, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman <joel AT exc.com> wrote:
> Thank you to everyone who has written about the (lack of) the 10
> commandments in Exodus, and about the root d.b.r.  (BTW, I have a
> short chatty essay about DBR and its various meanings:
>
>     http://www.lashon.net/JMH/Publications/Davar.pdf
>
> on-line.)
>
> But still, does anyone know where the two numbering traditions come
> from in Exodus 20?
>
> Many thanks.
>
> -Joel
>
> Joel M. Hoffman, PhD
> http://www.lashon.net/JMH