Sailhamer: Israel's worship in the Sinai Covenant ...

Sailhamer on Exodus 20 v22-26

In vv.22-23, virtually the entire nature of the religion of the covenant is summarized, beginning with the warning against idolatry. Moses was to remind the Israelites that God had spoken to them directly and thus to warn them not to stray from God through worship of idols.

The simple description of true worship in vv.24-26 is intended to portray the essence of the Sinai covenant in terms that are virtually identical to that of the religion of the patriarchs earthen altars, burnt offerings, and simple devotion.

If more than a simple earthen altar is desired (e.g., a stone altar), then it should not be defiled with carved stones and elaborate steps.

The ultimate purpose of any such ritual is the covering of human nakedness that stems from the Fall (cf. Ge 3:7). The implication is that all ritual is only a reflection of that first gracious act of God in covering human nakedness with garments of skin (Ge 3:21). Later, in Ex 28:42, provision was made for the priests to wear linen undergarments “to cover their naked flesh” as they approached the altar.

It is notable that this picture of the nature of the “true religion” of the covenant should precede the countless details yet to be given for the construction of the tabernacle. The detailed and ornate description of the tabernacle seems a far cry from the simple worship envisioned here.

These verses, however, play an important role in the lesson of the immediate narrative and ultimately that of the entire Pentateuch. They serve to focus our attention on the essential nature of the worship intended in the covenant.

Israel's worship in the Sinai Covenant was to be the same as that of the patriarchs as described in the Genesis narratives. God would certainly be honored with all the gold and silver of the tabernacle that was to be built, but his honor was not to be at the expense of the simple call to obedience exemplified by the patriarchs.

Sailhamer, John (1994) NIV Compact Commentary (pp. 89-90) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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