Study Desk

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed down before him and kissed him. The two men asked about each other's health. Then they went into Moses' tent to talk more.

The next day, Moses had the special job of judging the people. There were so many people that they had to stand before him all day.

So Moses did what Jethro told him.

So now I tell you to obey my commands and keep my agreement. So if you do this, you will be my own special people. The whole world belongs to me, but I am choosing you to be my own special people.

So Moses climbed down the mountain and called the elders of the people together. Moses told the elders everything the Lord had commanded him to tell them.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will come to you in the thick cloud. I will speak to you. All the people will hear me talking to you. I will do this so that they will always believe what you tell them." Then Moses told God everything the people had said.

So Moses climbed down the mountain and went to the people. He got them ready for the special meeting and they washed their clothes.

So the Lord came down to Mount Sinai. He came from heaven to the top of the mountain. Then he called Moses to come up to the top of the mountain with him. So Moses went up the mountain.

So Moses went down to the people and told them these things.

But the seventh day is a day of rest in honor of the Lord your God. So on that day no one should work—not you, your sons and daughters, or your men and women slaves. Even your animals and the foreigners living in your cities must not work!

"You must honor and respect your father and your mother. Do this so that you will have a full life in the land that the Lord your God gives you.

Then Moses said to them, "Don't be afraid! God has come to test you. He wants you to respect him so that you will not sin."

So you must not make idols using gold or silver to compete with me. You must not make these false gods.

But if an accident happens, and a person kills someone without planning it, then God allowed that thing to happen. I will choose some special places where people can run to for safety. So that person can run to one of those places.

But if the bull had hurt people in the past, and if the owner was warned, then the owner is guilty. That is because he did not keep the bull tied or locked in its place. So if the bull is allowed to be free and kills someone, the owner is guilty. You should kill the bull with stones and also kill the owner.

"How should you punish a man who steals a bull or a sheep? If the man kills the animal or sells it, then he cannot give it back. So he must pay five bulls for the one he stole. Or he must pay four sheep for the one he stole. He must pay for stealing.

"Remember, in the past you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. So you should not cheat or hurt anyone who is a foreigner in your land.

"You are my special people. So don't eat the meat from something that was killed by wild animals. Let the dogs eat that dead animal.

"If someone tries to pay you to agree with them when they are wrong, don't accept that payment. A payment like that can blind judges so that they cannot see the truth. It can make good people tell lies.

"So three times each year all the men will come to the special place to be with the Lord God .