The Skeptics Annotated Bible (78 page)

14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.

(20.14)
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
110 Is it wrong to commit adultery?

15
Thou shalt not steal.

(20.15)
“Thou shalt not steal.”
91 Is it wrong to steal?

16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

(20.16)
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
86 Is it wrong to lie?

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house,
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,
nor his ox,
nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

(20.17)
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, … nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
To the God of the Bible, women and slaves (servants in the KJV) are the property of men; they are his possessions—like an ox or an ass.
111 Is it OK to covet?
42 Does God approve of slavery?

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

22 And
the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

(20.22)
“The LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.”
105 Who gave the law to Moses?

23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

24 An altar of earth
thou shalt
make unto me, and shalt
sacrifice
thereon thy
burnt offerings
, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

(20.24)
“Thou shalt … sacrifice … burnt offerings.”
20 Does God desire animal sacrifices?
96 Did God command the Israelites to make burnt offerings?

25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

26
Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

(20.26)
“Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.”
God tells the priests not to go up the steps to the altar “that thy nakedness not be discovered thereon.” (Skirts on stairs are a problem.)