On the basis of a newly published palaeo-Hebrew ostracon dating from the late seventh century BCE it is suggested that the Deuteronomic version of the Decalogue does not include references to divine commandments given earlier (Deut. 5.12, 'observe the sabbath day... as the Lord your God commanded you'; 5.16, 'honour your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you'). The relevant phrase introduces what follows and is to be rendered 'thus commands the Lord your God'. The Masoretic verse division of Deut. 5.12, 16 should be ignored in favor of this new interpretation.
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References
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