The Ten Commandments of the Hebrew Bible have become a focal point in contemporary culture wars. When and how, among all the laws reportedly given on Mount Sinai, did the Decalogue become such a privileged and authoritative text? Are all of its specific dos and don'ts still valid? Drawing on biblical and nonbiblical sources, Michael Coogan, Lecturer on Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Harvard, considers ancient and modern understandings of these iconic words, along with their observance and nonobservance, by both Jews and Christians throughout the ages.

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