It must have been figurative, right?
I'm sure a man as wise as Moses wouldn't believe in gods literally.
2007-03-15 09:08:35 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible meant it literally.
However, since no one else was around to watch, we'd have to take Moses's word for it, and he's known to be an unreliable source:
a) disgruntled ex-prince
b) exaggerated the story of Noah and the flood considerably
c) probably exaggerated the age to which people lived prior to the flood
2007-03-15 09:12:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
According to Cecil B. Demille, it was lightning! Ha ha ha ha ....
I think, if I read Exodus correctly, that God dictated the 10 commandments and the 5 books of the Bible (Old Testament to some, Torah or Tanakh to others) to Moses and he wrote it all down.
Then he came down from the mountain and found that his brother Aaron built a golden calf and before the Israelites got the 10 commandments, they had already broken the first. They put another god before ... God!
There was also a alot of debauchery. I am guessing Moses took too much time taking dictation.
Anyway, its when Moses comes down from the mountain the first time, that in utter disbelief and anger, he destroys the 10 commandments and pronounces judgment on the Israelites. He then goes back up on Mount Sanai and pleads for God's forgivness. God instructs him to make stone tablets upon which the 10 commandments are written by God himself, so as to leave no doubt. This time, when Moses returns, the calf is gone and everyone respects the 10 commandments. The few that don't get their heads rolled off.
Is this to be a literal or figurative? I would pick literal in this story. Here God orders Moses to make a set of tablets so God can write them down personally. This is supposed to prove to any wafflers out there, God means business.
Analysis: In this instance, yes. Why? Because the first set is prepared by Moses, and the 2nd set by God. How can it be meant any other way?
So the answer is : Yes
2007-03-15 09:31:36 · answer #2 · answered by krollohare2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, literal. But God's handwriting is, well-- Let's just say the original didn't make it all the way down the hill in one piece. The second time around, God had Moses do the carving. Wise move.
2007-03-15 09:47:15 · answer #3 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it is up to your personal beliefs.
The Ancient Egyptian culture which Moses grew up, believed that the Pharaoh was an incarnation of the Sun God on earth. Before the time of King David, Jehovah was considered the King God or the God of gods. The Biblical stories of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob has God or his angels interacting with the population.
How you belief that 10 commandments were created is up to. I personally belief that Moses was using his limited knowledge to describe what was happening. For example; 18th century Ben Franklin might describe a helicopter as a winged dragon.
2007-03-15 09:24:18 · answer #4 · answered by Philatellic I.Y.C. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually there were 613 commandments.
Read Exodus 20 on . The people heard 10 and could no longer bare the voice of God. Moses went up and heard the rest.
And yes the finger of God etched them. Moses saw the back of God.
Who said Moses was smart? He was chosen.
2007-03-15 09:15:06 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one knows for sure, but they figured that it was literal. And you are right, Moses was an extremely wise man. and because of his wisdom, he believed in a true God, the one and only God who had created the earth and then sent his one and ONLY son to die on the cross for our sins. He didn't stay dead though, Jesus (God's son) rose again in three days... He didn''t stay dead! Although Moses didn't know it at the time, he was serving an all-powerful amazing and indescribable God. So Moses was very wise and God obvioulsy has the power defeat death!
Hope that helps
2007-03-15 09:14:49 · answer #6 · answered by rcvhoya 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God the Father, who is in heaven never gave Moses the 10 Commandments.
Satan, the God of Mount Sinai, the God of the temple,the God of Moses, gave Moses the 1O Commandment. and the 613 LAWS>
This is why the day Moses came down the mountain with the 10 Commandments he killed 3000 of his own people. You know who the serpent is, so why would you let Satan deceive you into believing that the serpent in the (Sinai) wilderness was God the Father, which is in heaven.
Look up the word "SINAI", what does it mean, tell everyone who will listen.
Jesus gave us nothing but commandments 75 of them. and said if you love me you will keepy commandments.
2007-03-16 16:09:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He may have been wise, but he also did believe in one god - most literally. People who take every word in the bible literally...would HAVE to agree that the 10 commandments were carved by an actual finger....maybe even the middle finger...now wouldn't they?
2007-03-15 09:12:44 · answer #8 · answered by Virgo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Literally.
2007-03-15 09:12:25 · answer #9 · answered by s2scrm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is literal, and Moses was not smart,He told God I am dumb, and God told Adam to have His brother Aaron
speak for Him.
2007-03-15 09:14:57 · answer #10 · answered by gwhiz1052 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋