{"id":10571,"date":"2007-02-24T00:54:00","date_gmt":"2007-02-24T00:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/production.ou.org\/life\/other\/covenant_shmovenant\/"},"modified":"2015-10-25T08:38:19","modified_gmt":"2015-10-25T13:38:19","slug":"covenant_shmovenant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/covenant_shmovenant\/","title":{"rendered":"Covenant Shmovenant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Ten Commandments are concise and plainly worded\u2014because the Israelites were smart enough to lawyer-up before finalizing the contract. Excerpts from an early draft archaeologists dug up last week.<\/i><\/p>\n

Biblical scholars have long recognized the language of the Ten Commandments as different from the rest of the writings found in the Old Testament. Similar in style to standard legal contracts of the era, the Ten Commandments were penned by Hebrew scribes to reflect the seriousness with which their people took their contract with their God.<\/p>\n

Last week, archaeologists working in the caves near Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found half a century ago, discovered a redlined re-draft of the contract. By comparing this early version of the Covenant to the one that ultimately made its way into Exodus, scholars now surmise the Israelites not only wrestled with their God on many of the issues, but most likely had lawyers present, as well.<\/p>\n

A partial translation follows:<\/p>\n

This Covenant (\u201cCovenant\u201d) is entered into as of this day, the first day of the third month after the Exodus from Egypt, between Yahweh (hereinafter referred to as \u201cParty of the First Part,\u201d and legally defined as \u201cThe Lord, God\u201d) and the People of Israel (hereinafter referred to as \u201cParty of the Second Part,\u201d and legally defined as \u201cThe Chosen People\u201d).<\/p>\n

Whereas the Party of the First Part has outlined a set of laws, whereby the Party of the Second Part must adhere.<\/p>\n

And whereas the period of the Covenant shall last for all of Eternity (or one billion trillion years, whichever comes first), commencing as of the date hereof (\u201cTerm\u201d).<\/p>\n

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO:<\/p>\n

1. The Party of the Second Part hereby waives the right to enter into any Covenant with another God, including, but not limited to: Dharmic deities, pantheistic and henotheistic Gods, or any God that would be so frivolous as to play dice with the universe.<\/p>\n

2. The Party of the Second Part may not produce or distribute a sculpted image, idol, or icon, in whole or in part, of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, without the prior written consent of a consulting firm that specializes in branding or brand strategy pre-approved by the Party of the First Part (n.b., Ogilvy & Mather; see Exhibit A for complete list).<\/p>\n

3. The Party of the Second Part shall not swear falsely by the name of the Party of the First Part except under the following two (2) proviso(s):<\/p>\n