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Jesse Tree ornament, day ten - The Ten Commandments
Art Jesse Tree 2019 

Jesse Tree – Day 10: Moses

Karina Tabone 0 Comments , ,

Hello again! Are you ready for another Jesse Tree devotional, in which we submerse ourselves into the Old Testament to learn more about the promises which led up to Christ’s birth?

Yes?

Wonderful!

Today, we’re going to delve into Moses’s story. In particular, we’re going to delve into the Ten Commandments, which is basically God’s gift to us.

And yes, I realize that some of you probably inwardly groaned with the thought of a “gift” being rules and restrictions, but trust me. When people follow the Ten Commandments, life is basically good. It’s when people don’t follow the Ten Commandments that life gets ugly really quick.

Anyway! Here’s the ornament for today:

Jesse Tree ornament, day ten - The Ten Commandments
They are supposed to be two tablets of sorts! Click here for the crochet pattern for this ornament, if you want to try to make them!

And now, the Ten Commandments!

The Ten Commandments

(Bible text is Deuteronomy 5:1-22. Bible text taken from here.)

Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances which I proclaim in your hearing this day, that you may learn them and take care to observe them. The LORD, our God, made a covenant with us at Horeb; not with our ancestors did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, all of us who are alive here this day.

Moses and the Ten Commandments, by James Tissot, c. 1896-1902. Jewish Museum, New York, New York, United States.
Moses and the Ten Commandments, by James Tissot, c. 1896-1902. Jewish Museum, New York, New York, United States.

Face to face, the LORD spoke with you on the mountain from the midst of the fire, while I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to announce to you these words of the LORD, since you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain:

Moses on Mount Sinai, by Jean-Léon Gérôme, c. 1895-1900. Private collection.
Moses on Mount Sinai, by Jean-Léon Gérôme, c. 1895-1900. Private collection.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them.

Moses Receiving the Law on Mount Sinai, by Benjamin West, c. 1784. Parliamentary Art Collection, London, United Kingdom.
Moses Receiving the Law on Mount Sinai, by Benjamin West, c. 1784. Parliamentary Art Collection, London, United Kingdom.

For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, bringing punishment for their parents’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation, but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Moses and Aaron and the Ten Commandments, by Aaron de Chaves, c. 1656. Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, London, England.
Moses and Aaron and the Ten Commandments, by Aaron de Chaves, c. 1656. Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, London, England.

You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.

Observe the sabbath day—keep it holy, as the LORD, your God, commanded you. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or donkey or any work animal, or the resident alien within your gates, so that your male and female slave may rest as you do.

Moses and the Ten Commandments, c. 1600-1624. Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Moses and the Ten Commandments, c. 1600-1624. Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Remember that you too were once slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD, your God, brought you out from there with a strong hand and outstretched arm. That is why the LORD, your God, has commanded you to observe the sabbath day.

Moses with the Tables of the Law, by Pieter Gaal, c. 1803. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Moses with the Tables of the Law, by Pieter Gaal, c. 1803. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD, your God, has commanded you, that you may have a long life and that you may prosper in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

You shall not kill.

Moses and the Ten Commandments, by Philippe de Champaigne, c. 17th century. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Moses and the Ten Commandments, by Philippe de Champaigne, c. 17th century. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear dishonest witness against your neighbor.

Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law, by Rembrandt, c. 1659. Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany.
Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law, by Rembrandt, c. 1659. Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

You shall not desire your neighbor’s house or field, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Moses Descends from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, c. Ferdinand Bol, c. 1662. Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Moses Descends from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, c. Ferdinand Bol, c. 1662. Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

These words the LORD spoke with a loud voice to your entire assembly on the mountain from the midst of the fire and the dense black cloud, and added no more. He inscribed them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.

Moses Receives the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, Italian school, c. 17th century. National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden.
Moses Receives the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, Italian school, c. 17th century. National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden.

(Again! Bible text is Deuteronomy 5:1-22. Bible text taken from here.)

—

Hopefully, that inspires you to follow the Ten Commandments. 🙂

Now, for the next one, I can assure you that it’s going to be awesome and full of intrigue. After all, spies are involved…

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Karina Tabone

Karina Tabone is a wife, mother of four, author, blogger, and lover of Christian artwork. She's the author of the Illustrated Rosary series, which pairs every prayer of the Rosary with beautiful religious artwork. She likes also milkshakes, sunshine, and mystery novels. Follow her on Twitter at @illustr_prayer.

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