Deuteronomy 5:1

statutes and ordinances: These technical terms describe the specific commands of the covenant. These are the rules Israel was required to obey.

In the covenant, the Lord was the greater partner, and Israel was the lesser partner. Israel showed loyalty to the Lord by obeying these commands.

This section contains the main part of the covenant document. It explains the stipulations, or required commands. These commands show how Israel was to live as God’s covenant people.

The first part (5:1–11:32) presents the major stipulations. These focus especially on the first two commandments (5:7–10). These commandments teach Israel to worship the Lord alone and to avoid idols.

The rest of the section contains more specific instructions. These minor stipulations explain in detail how the major commandments should guide daily life.

The rest of the covenant laws explain and apply the Ten Commandments (5:6–21). These laws are based on those commandments.

Moses first gave the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel almost 40 years earlier at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:2–17). Now he reminds the people of these commands before they enter the promised land.