Exodus 20:18-26

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking,¹ they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance,² and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.’³

Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid;⁴ for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.’

The Lord said to Moses: Thus you shall say to the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I spoke with you from heaven.⁵ You shall not make gods of silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.⁶ You need make for me only an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt-offerings and your offerings of well-being, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.⁷ But if you make for me an altar of stone, do not build it of hewn stones; for if you use a chisel upon it you profane it.⁸ You shall not go up by steps to my altar, so that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’⁹

Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

1 The physical (potentially metaphorical?) enormity of the moment is emphasized again.

2 The people's response to the great display is terror. The content of the law isn't even mentioned.

3 It cements Moses's authority – fear of God forces them to trust Moses to convey God's commands.

4 Moses attempts to comfort the people by explaining God's behavior.

5 God uses the display to underline His authority.

6 Repeating the commands against idolatry.

7 Rather than a “do not”, God now gives a positive command for how He is to be worshiped.

8 A chisel profanes an alter? Does that mean that the alters were built from piled natural stone?

9 I don't understand this verse. My study Bible suggests that it may be a response to Canaanite practices.

Take-home: Having given the first ten commands, God once again displays His authority and puts fear into the people. They respond by relying on Moses to approach God. This passage underscores and sets up the authority of the continued laws that are about to be given.