Meaning
The first commandment (thus
consisting of Ex 20:3, 5-6a / Dt 5:7, 9-10a) is plainly and explicitly
intolerant of other gods: One may not have other gods. Although one could suggest
that the על-פני in the first part of the command (Ex 20:3 / Dt 5:7) limits the
prohibition in some way, the second part of the command (Ex 20:5 / Dt 5:9)
reveals the intention of the first part as well: לא־תשתחוה and לא־תעבד
explicitly and generally prohibit the worship of other gods. Accordingly, the
first part should be understood as a general prohibition against having any
gods in one's life. Moreover, the jealousy or zeal of Yahwe (אל קנא) is best
understood in relation to other gods: One of His characteristics is that He is
The use of this word not only implies the existence of 10 intolerant or zealous
towards them. other gods but also that Yahwe does not accept them in the lives
of the Israelites. (Juha Pakkala, Intolerant
Monolatry in the Deuteronomistic History [Publications of the Finnish
Exegetical Society 76; Helsinki/Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1999], 62-63)
