5:37
Episode 2

1st Commandment: No Other Gods

After Yahweh delivers the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, he enters into a covenant agreement with them at Mount Sinai. His first command to them is, “You shall have no other elohim before me.” What are elohim, and why does God ask for undivided allegiance?

Reflect

  1. How do Yahweh’s covenant with Israel and his first words in Exodus 20:2 set the tone for the 10 Commandments?

  2. Consider all the different meanings of “before me” in Hebrew. How do each of these apply in this command?

  3. How does awareness of elohim as a class of spiritual beings in the Bible change how we think about this command? What sets Yahweh apart from all other elohim?

  4. In what ways are modern higher ideals or powers similar to the biblical idea of elohim? What are some examples of how we might give our allegiance to them instead of to Yahweh?

Continue Exploring With Our Guide to the 10 Commandments

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The 10 Commandments

4:55

Episode 1

The 10 Commandments as Wisdom

The 10 Commandments are among the most well-known rules in the Bible and all of history. But what if they are more than just rules? What if they are a pathway to a universe of wisdom?
5:37

Episode 2

1st Commandment: No Other Gods

After Yahweh delivers the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, he enters into a covenant agreement with them at Mount Sinai. His first command to them is, “You shall have no other elohim before me.” What are elohim, and why does God ask for undivided allegiance?