31 May 2015

EJ&T: Other gods

  1. Have no other gods before Yahweh.
  2. Maimonides #2: Not to even think that there are other gods besides Him
    Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

    Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Deuteronomy 5:7

  3. Don't bow down to other gods.
  4. Maimonides #27: Not to worship idols in the manner they are worshiped
    Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them. Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9

    Thou shalt not bow down to their gods. Exodus 23:24

    Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 26:1

  5. Don't serve other gods.
  6. Thou shalt not ... serve them [other gods]. Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 5:9

    Ye shall not go after other gods. Deuteronomy 6:14

    Thou shalt not ... go after other gods to serve them. Deuteronomy 28:14

    Neither walk after other gods. Jeremiah 7:6

  7. Don't make any molten gods.
  8. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. Exodus 34:17

    Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods. Leviticus 19:4

  9. Don't make gods of silver or gold.
  10. Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. Exodus 20:23

  11. Don't mention the names of any of the other gods.
  12. Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. Exodus 23:13

    Neither make mention of the name of their gods. Joshua 23:7

  13. Don't revile the gods.
  14. Thou shalt not revile the gods. Exodus 22:28

27 May 2015

EJ&T: Commandments about swearing

  1. Swear.
  2. Thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness.. Jeremiah 4:2

  3. Swear to God.
  4. He that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth. Isaiah 65:16

  5. Swear by God's name.
  6. Maimonides #213: To swear in God's Name to confirm the truth when deemed necessary by court
    Thou shalt ... swear by his name. Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20

    Swear by my name. Jeremiah 12:16

  7. Don't swear falsely in God's name.
  8. Maimonides #209: Not to swear falsely in God's Name
    Ye shall not swear by my name falsely. Leviticus 19:12

  9. Don't swear by the name of any other god.
  10. Neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them. Joshua 23:7

  11. Don't swear at all.
  12. Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Matthew 5:34-37

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5:12

    (For more on this, see Is it OK to swear?)

20 May 2015

Alma 47: Amalickiah's Treachery

Remember Amlickiah from the last chapter? Well, you probably don't, because it's been a while since my last post. But he was the evil, large man who desired to be king. Well, he was no match for Moroni and his title of liberty, so he ran into the woods with some of his followers. Moroni chased after them, and took most of his followers captive, and forced them to convert or else he killed them.

Well, Moroni never managed to capture Amlickiah or his entourage -- they were already too far into the woods, I guess. This chapter follows Amlickiah's shenanigans in the woods, and among the Lamanites.

Amlickiah's first order of business was to dethrone the king of the Lamanites, so he could get the power for himself.

The current king of the Lamanites was having trouble controlling his people. He wanted to send his army to attack the Nephites, but only part of them would obey. He decided to give put Amlickiah in charge of the army. Little did he know, this was JUST what Amlickiah was after -- and it would ultimately be the undoing of the king.

Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites. Alma 47:1 
And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king. 47:2 
And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms. 47:3 
Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites. 47:4

After Amalickiah got command of some of the army, he went to where the others were hanging out: a place called Onidah. They had appointed their own king at Onihad, and they had all gathered at the top of a hill called Antipas. We're not sure what the name of the king was, but the hill was called Antipas.

Amalickiah didn't want to fight them, he wanted to gain control of them. So he made camp at the bottom of the "mount Antipas".
And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms. 47:5 
And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites. 47:6 
And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle. 47:7 
Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom. 47:8 
And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas. 47:9

Amalickiah sent up messengers to the king, asking for him to come down so he could speak to him. The king declined, 3 times, and then finally Amalickiah decided to walk up the damn mountain himself. Maybe if the king didn't have to travel so far he would talk to him.

He told the king to come down and speak with him, and to bring his guards if he had to.
And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him. 47:10 
And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time. 47:11 
And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him. 47:12
When Amalickiah finally got his audience with Lehonti, he told the king that what he wanted was  for his army to be captured in the night. He told the Lehonti to send his army down there at night and capture them, and that he would make it easy for them.

So that's what he did. Before the army even woke up, they were surrounded.
And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army. 47:13 
And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti. 47:14
 Then the army did a curious thing. They didn't get angry at Amalickiah for selling them out, and instead they pleaded with him to let them become a part of the larger army that had just captured them. This seems doubly strange, because it doesn't seem like he would have the power in the situation anymore, without an army and everything. But this was all part of his crafty plan, as you'll soon see.
And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired. 47:15 
And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king. 47:16
So, as it turns out, the Lamanites had a strange custom of appointing their second-in-command as chief leader if their chief ended up dying. And Amalickiah had the chief poisoned, so then he was quickly appointed chief. Well, that was easy! (Macbeth sure would have been a lot shorter if Joseph Smith had written it...)
Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader. 47:17 
And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died. 47:18 
Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander. 47:19
 So now that Amalickiah had control of the army, he marched back to the city of Nephi, and to the Lamanite king. When he got there, the king greeted him, pleased that he had rounded up such a large army to fight the Nephites. They all bowed to the king, and he reached down to raise them up, in a formal gesture that they had picked up from their time living with the Nephites.

 And it came to pass that Amalickiah marched with his armies (for he had gained his desires) to the land of Nephi, to the city of Nephi, which was the chief city. 47:20 
And the king came out to meet him with his guards, for he supposed that Amalickiah had fulfilled his commands, and that Amalickiah had gathered together so great an army to go against the Nephites to battle. 47:21 
But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness. 47:22 
And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites. 47:23

But just then, BAM! One of Amalickiah's party stabbed the king in the heart, and then all of Amlickiah's servants started shouting that the kings own servants had stabbed him. They gathered an angry mob to chase down the poor innocent servants and ran them out of town into the wilderness.

And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth. 47:24 
Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying: 47:25 
Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see. 47:26 
And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they may be slain. 47:27 
And it came to pass that all they who loved the king, when they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king. 47:28 
Now when the servants of the king saw an army pursuing after them, they were frightened again, and fled into the wilderness, and came over into the land of Zarahemla and joined the people of Ammon. 47:29
So Amalickiah took control of the city, and then the entire kingdom. But he still had one thing to conquer: the king's wife. She asked him for three things: to spare the residents of the city, to come in unto her, and to bring some witnesses to back up his story. After doing all three, they were happily married, and Amalickiah's position as king of all the land was secure. He ruled over a pretty diverse kingdom. He was king of the Lamanites, the Lemuelites, the Ishmaelites, and all of the dissenters of the Nephites.

And now it came to pass that the queen, when she had heard that the king was slain—for Amalickiah had sent an embassy to the queen informing her that the king had been slain by his servants, that he had pursued them with his army, but it was in vain, and they had made their escape - 47:32 
Therefore, when the queen had received this message she sent unto Amalickiah, desiring him that he would spare the people of the city; and she also desired him that he should come in unto her; and she also desired him that he should bring witnesses with him to testify concerning the death of the king. 47:33 
And it came to pass that Amalickiah took the same servant that slew the king, and all them who were with him, and went in unto the queen, unto the place where she sat; and they all testified unto her that the king was slain by his own servants; and they said also: They have fled; does not this testify against them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the king. 47:34 
And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time. 47:35
The worst of these people, though, were the Nephite dissenters. You see, once you have knowledge of the Lord but don't follow him, you become even crazier than the regular wicked people: more hardened, impenitent, wild, wicked and ferocious -- drinking, indolence, lasciviousness...
Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.  47:36

I'm sure we'll hear more about these terrible people in the following chapters! Look for a new Book of Mormon blog post every Tuesday and Thursday from here on out, until I finish Alma.








EJ&T: Commandments about God

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19.
So I finally finished my list of the Bible's commandments. Now I'm trying to put them into some kind of order. It's going get a bit messy, I'm afraid. I'll be lumping, splitting, adding, and deleting commandments as I go along -- trying to make a complete and accurate list.

I've already listed the commandments about the commandments. Here are the commandments about God.

  1. Love God.
  2. Maimonides #4: Love God
    Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:5

    Love him [God]. Deuteronomy 10:12

    Thou shalt love the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 11:1

    Hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God ... with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 11:13

    Love the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 11:22

    Love the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 19:9, 30:20

    I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 30:16

    Do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God. Joshua 22:5

    Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. Joshua 23:11

    Love the LORD, all ye his saints. Psalm 31:23

    Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:36-38

    Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

    Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind. Luke 10:27

    Keep yourselves in the love of God. Jude 1:21

  3. Fear God.
  4. Maimonides #5: Fear God reverently
    Thou ... shalt fear thy God. Leviticus 19:14, 25:43

    Fear God. Leviticus 19:32, Revelation 14:7

    Thou shalt fear thy God. Leviticus 25:17, 1 Peter 2:17

    Fear thy God. Leviticus 25:36

    Fear the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 6:2, 10:12

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20

    The Lord commanded us ... to fear the LORD our God. Deuteronomy 6:24

    Fear him. Deuteronomy 8:6, 13:4

    Fear the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 31:12, 31:13

    Fear the LORD your God for ever. Joshua 4:24

    Fear the LORD. Joshua 24:14, 1 Samuel 12:24, Proverbs 3:7

    The LORD ... shall ye fear. 2 Kings 17:36

    The LORD your God ye shall fear. 2 Kings 17:39

    The LORD ... is to be feared above all gods. 1 Chronicles 16:25

    Fear before him. 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalm 96:9

    Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God? Nehemiah 5:9

    O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Psalm 34:9

    Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. Proverbs 23:17

    Fear thou the LORD. Proverbs 24:21

    Fear thou God. Ecclesiastes 5:7

    Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

    Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

    Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:5

  5. Thank God.
  6. Give thanks unto the LORD. 1 Chronicles 16:8

    O give thanks unto the LORD. 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 105:1, 106:1, 107:1, 118:1, 118:29, 136:1

    Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 30:4

    Offer unto God thanksgiving. Psalm 50:14

    Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 97:12

    Enter into his gates with thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4

    Be thankful unto him. Psalm 100:4

    O give thanks unto the God of gods. 136:2

    O give thanks to the Lord of lords. 136:3

    O give thanks unto the God of heaven. 136:26

    Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

    Giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17

  7. Praise God
  8. The LORD [is] greatly to be praised 1 Chronicles 16:25

    Praise the LORD with harp. Psalm 33:2

    Make his praise glorious. Psalm 66:2

    Make the voice of his praise to be heard. Psalm 66:8

    Extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH. Psalm 68:4

    O sing praises unto the Lord. Psalm 68:32

    Enter ... into his courts with praise. Psalm 100:4

    Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 104:35; 106:1, 48; 111:1; 112:1; 113:9; 116:19; 117:2, 155:21, 146:1, 146:10, 147:1, 147:20, 148:14, 149:1, 149:9, 150:1, Jeremiah 20:13

    Praise ye the LORD. Praise. Psalm 113:1, 135:1, 135:3

    Praise the LORD. Psalm 115:18, 147:12, 148:7

    O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. Psalm 117:1

    Praise him. Psalm 135:1, 148:4

    Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Psalm 148:1

    Praise ye him. 148:2, 3

    Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Psalm 150:1

    Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 150:2

    Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Psalm 150:3

    Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 150:4

    Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Psalm 150:5

    Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:6

    Praise the name of the LORD your God. Joel 2:26

  9. Bless God.
  10. Bless the LORD your God. 1 Chronicles 29:20

    O bless our God, ye people. Psalm 66:8

    Bless the LORD. Psalm 134:2, Psalm 135:20, Psalm 135:21

  11. Serve God.
  12. Ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. Exodus 23:25-26

    Seve him (God). Deuteronomy 6:13, 13:4

    Serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 10:12

    Him [God] shalt thou serve. Deuteronomy 10:20

    Hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day ... to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 11:13

    Do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you ... to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Joshua 22:5

    Serve him [God] in truth with all your heart 1 Samuel 12:24

    My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you ... to serve him [the Lord]. 2 Chronicles 29:11

    Serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 2 Chronicles 30:8

    Serve the LORD with fear. Psalm 2:11

    Serve the LORD with gladness. Psalm 100:2

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written ... him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10

    Serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

  13. Trust God.
  14. Put your trust in the LORD. Psalm 4:5

    Trust in the LORD. Psalm 37:3, 115:11

    Trust also in him. Psalm 37:5

    Trust in him at all times. Psalm 62:8

    Trust thou in the LORD. Psalm 115:9

    Trust in the LORD with all thine heart. Proverbs 3:5

  15. Glorify God.
  16. Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20

  17. Exalt God.
  18. Exalt ye the LORD our God. Psalm 99:5

    Exalt the LORD our God. Psalm 99:9

  19. Magnify God.
  20. O magnify the LORD with me, , and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3

  21. Sanctify God.
  22. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself. Isaiah 8:13

    Sanctify the Lord God in you hearts. 1 Peter 3:15

  23. Follow God.
  24. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. Ephesians 5:1

  25. Worship the god whose name is Jealous.
  26. Thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:10

  27. Praise the name of God.
  28. Praise the name of the Lord. Psalm 113:1

    Praise ye the name of the LORD. Psalm 135:1

  29. Bless God's name.
  30. Bless his name. Psalm 96:2, 100:4

  31. Call on God's name.
  32. Call on his name. 1 Chronicles 16:8, Psalm 105:1

    Call upon me in the day of trouble. Psalm 50:15

    Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

  33. Glory in God's holy name.
  34. Glory ye in his holy name. 1 Chronicles 16:10, Psalm 105:3

  35. Don't take God's name in vain.
  36. Maimonides #210: Not to take God's Name in vain
    Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain. Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11

    Neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 18:21

  37. Don't profane God's name.
  38. Neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. Leviticus 19:12

    Neither shall ye profane my holy name. Leviticus 22:32

  39. Yield to God.
  40. Yield yourselves unto the LORD ... that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 2 Chronicles 30:8

  41. Wait for God.
  42. Wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7

    Wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. Proverbs 20:22

  43. Submit to God.
  44. Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:7

  45. Listen to God.
  46. Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. Psalm 50:7

    Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces. Psalm 50:22

    Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness. Isaiah 46:12

    Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. Isaiah 51:1-2

    Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. Isaiah 51:4

    Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Isaiah 51:7

  47. Cleave to God.
  48. To Him [God] thou shalt cleave. Deuteronomy 10:20

    Cleave unto him [God]. Deuteronomy 11:22, Deuteronomy 13:4

    Do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you ... to cleave unto him. Joshua 22:5

  49. Minister to God.
  50. My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you ... to minister unto him. 2 Chronicles 29:11

  51. Return to God.
  52. For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 2 Chronicles 30:9

    Return unto the LORD thy God. Hosea 14:1

    Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Zecharaiah 1:3

    Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:7

  53. Get close to God.
  54. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:8

  55. Sing to God
  56. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him. 1 Chronicles 16:9

    Sing unto the LORD, all the earth. 1 Chronicles 16:23

    Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion. Psalm 9:11

    Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his. Psalm 30:4

    Sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Psalm 33:2

    Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. Psalm 33:3

    Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. Psalm 47:6

    Sing ye praises with understanding. Psalm 47:7

    Make a joyful noise unto God ... Sing forth the honour of his name. Psalm 66:1-2

    Sing unto God, sing praises to his name. Psalm 68:4

    Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth. Psalm 68:32

    Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon. Psalm 81:1-3

    O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD. Psalm 96:1-2

    O sing unto the LORD a new song. Psalm 98:1, Psalm 149:1

    Sing praise. Psalm 98:4

    Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. Psalm 98:5

    Come before his presence with singing. Psalm 100:2

    Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him. Psalm 105:2

    Sing praises unto his name. Psalm 135:3

    Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God. Psalm 147:7

    Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:5

    Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth. Isaiah 42:10

    Sing unto the LORD. Jeremiah 20:13

    Sing, O daughter of Zion. Zephaniah 3:14

    Sing ... O daughter of Zion. Zechariah 2:10

    Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19

    Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

  57. Make vows to God.
  58. Pay thy vows unto the most High. Psalm 50:14

  59. Rest in God.
  60. Rest in the Lord. Psalm 37:7

  61. Be glad in God.
  62. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Pslam 32:11

    Delight thyself also in the LORD. Pslam 37:4

  63. Don't forget God.
  64. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 8:11

    Thou shalt remember the LORD thy God ... if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God ... I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. Deuteronomy 8:18-19

  65. Don't tempt God.
  66. Maimonides #10: Not to try the LORD unduly
    Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 6:16

    Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:7

    (See Can God be tempted?)

  67. Don't trespass against God.
  68. Our fathers have trespassed ... Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 2 Chronicles 29:6-8

    Be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 2 Chronicles 30:7

  69. Don't forsake God.
  70. Our fathers have ... forsaken him. ... Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. 2 Chronicles 29:6-8

    Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place ... Because they have forsaken me. 2 Chronicles 34:24-25

  71. Don't destroy God's holy things.
  72. Maimonides #8: Not to destroy objects associated with His Name
    Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 12:2-4

  73. Say the following things to God:
  74. Say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. 1 Chronicles 16:35-36

    Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. Psalm 66:3-4

  75. Say: "God reigns."
  76. Let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. 1 Chronicles 16:31

    Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth. Psalm 96:10

  77. Don't be hasty to say things to God. The less you say to him the better.
  78. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

  79. Give something to God. Here are your options:
  80. Gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goat's hair, red rams' skins, badgers' skins, shittim wood, oil, spices, sweet incense, onyx stones, stones for the ephod and breastplate.
    And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. Exodus 25:1-7

    This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. Exodus 35:4-9

    Honour the LORD with thy substance. Proverbs 3:9

  81. Give God glory and strength.
  82. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name. 1 Chronicles 16:28-29

    Give unto the LORD glory and strength. Psalm 29:1

    Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name. Psalm 29:2

    Thou shalt glorify me. Psalm 50:15

    Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Psalm 50:15

    Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name. Psalm 96:7-8

    Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

    He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 10:17

  83. Make some holy perfume for God.
  84. Make some holy perfume for God by mixing sweet spices, using equal amounts of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. Put it in the tabernacle where God meets with you. It is God's holy perfume.

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy ... it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. Exodus 30:34-37

  85. But don't make any of God's holy perfume for your own use.
  86. As for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof. Exodus 30:37

  87. Whoever makes any holy perfume for anyone but God will be cut off.
  88. Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people. Exodus 30:38

  89. Build a a house on the mountain for God to take pleasure in.
  90. Consider your ways. Haggai 1:7

  91. Know that God is God.
  92. Know ye that the LORD he is God. Psalm 100:3

  93. Know that God has set apart the godly for himself.
  94. Know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself. Psalm 4:3

  95. Acknowledge God's strength.
  96. Ascribe ye strength unto God. Psalm 68:34

  97. Acknowledge God in everything you do.
  98. In all thy ways acknowledge him. Proverbs 3:6

  99. Ask God
  100. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Pslam 2:4

    Ask, and it shall be given you. Matthew 7:7

  101. Ask God for rain in the time of the latter rain.
  102. Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain Zecharaiah 10:1

  103. When you're in trouble, ask God for help.
  104. Call upon me [God] in the day of trouble. Psalm 50:15

  105. Make requests to God.
  106. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philiippians 4:6

  107. Seek God and his strength.
  108. Seek the LORD and his strength. 1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 105:4

    Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

    Seek the LORD. Amos 5:6

    Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name. Amos 5:8

    Seek, and ye shall find. Matthew 7:7

  109. Walk in God's ways.
  110. Walk in his ways. Deuteronomy 10:12

    Walk in all his ways. Deuteronomy 11:22

    Ye shall walk after the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 13:4

    Walk ever in his ways. Deuteronomy 19:9

    I command thee this day ... to walk in his ways. Deuteronomy 30:16

    Do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways. Joshua 22:5

    Walk in thy [God's] ways. 2 Chronicles 6:31

    Commit thy way unto the LORD. Psalm 37:5

    Walk in the light of the LORD. Isaiah 2:5

  111. Walk humbly with God.
  112. Walk humbly with thy God. Micah 6:8

  113. Pour out your heart to God.
  114. Pour out your heart before him. Psalm 62:8

  115. Make known his deeds among the people.
  116. Tell people what the Lord has done among them. 1 Chronicles 16:8

    Talk ye of all his wondrous works. 1 Chronicles 16:9

    Make known his deeds among the people. Psalm 105:1

  117. Declare God's doings among the people.
  118. Declare among the people his doings. Psalm 9:11

  119. Declare God's glory among the heathen.
  120. Declare his glory among the heathen. 1 Chronicles 16:24, Psalm 96:3

  121. Talk about all of God's wondrous works.
  122. Talk ye of all his wondrous works. Psalm 105:2

  123. Look at God and be saved.
  124. Look unto me, and be ye saved. Isaiah 45:22

  125. Taste and see the goodness of God.
  126. O taste and see that the LORD is good. Psalm 34:8

  127. Remember God's marvelous works, wonders, and judgments of his mouth.
  128. Work hard for God.
  129. Be ... abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

  130. Commit your works to God.
  131. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3

  132. Worship God in the beauty of holiness.
  133. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:28

    Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:2

    O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 96:9

  134. Worship at God's footstool.
  135. Worship at his footstool. Psalm 99:5

  136. Worship at God's holy hill.
  137. Worship at his holy hill. Psalm 99:9

  138. Obey God's voice.
  139. Obey his voice. Deuteronomy 13:4

    Obey my voice. Jeremiah 7:23, 11:4

  140. Seek God's face continually.
  141. Seek his face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11

    Seek his face evermore. Psalm 105:4

  142. Clap your hands and shout to God.
  143. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Psalm 47:1

    Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Isaiah 12:6

    Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression. Isaiah 58:1

    Shout, O Israel. Zephaniah 3:14

    Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Zechariah 9:9

  144. Make a joyful noise to God.
  145. Make a joyful noise unto God. Psalm 66:1

    Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Psalm 81:1

    Make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

    Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 98:4

    With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Psalm 98:6

    Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Psalm 100:1

  146. Show forth God's salvation from day to day.
  147. Shew forth from day to day his salvation. 1 Chronicles 16:23

    Shew forth his salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2

  148. Cast your burden upon God.
  149. Cast thy burden upon the LORD. Psalm 55:22

  150. Bless God when you finish eating.
  151. Maimonides #85: Bless God after eating
    When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Deuteronomy 8:10

  152. Consider the work of God.
  153. Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? Ecclesiastes 7:13

  154. Bring an offering and come before God.
  155. Bring an offering, and come before him. 1 Chronicles 16:30

    Bring an offering, and come into his courts. Psalm 96:8

  156. Let God chastise you.
  157. Despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction. Proverbs 3:11

  158. Every man must pay God one half shekel annually.
  159. Maimonides #119: Each man must give a half shekel annually

    Count the number of men who are at least 20 years old and make each man, rich or poor, pay God half a shekel to protect him from the plague. This money will be used to maintain the tabernacle.

    When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. Exodus 30:12-16

  160. See the terrible things that God has done (and continues to do) to people.
  161. Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. Psalm 66:5

11 May 2015

The top ten commandments in the Bible (based on the number of times they are repeated)

In my last post, I said that "Fear God" is the second most repeated commandment in the Bible. But I forgot about "Praise God," which is repeated 44 times, 11 more than "Fear God."

Here are the top ten, as near as I can figure.

  1. Obey all the the commandments. (51)
  2. Praise God. (44)
  3. Fear God. (33)
  4. Sing to God. (28)
  5. Thank God. (18)
  6. Love your neighbor. (18)
  7. Rejoice. (15)
  8. Love God. (15)
  9. Serve God. (14)
  10. Do good. (14)

10 May 2015

The second most repeated commandment in the Bible: Fear God

11 May 15 - Correction: "Fear God" is the third, not the second most repeated commandment in the Bible. I forgot about "Praise God," which is repeated 44 times, 11 more than "Fear God."

See The top ten most repeated commandments in the Bible.


The Bible says that "God is Love"; that "there is no fear in love"; and that God has not "given us the spirit of fear, but ... of love."

And yet this "God of love" commands his believers to fear him 33 times in the Bible. It is the second most repeated commandment in the Bible (after the commandment to obey all the commandments.)

Here thy are:

(See Should we fear God? at the SAB.)

  1. Fear God.
  2. Thou ... shalt fear thy God. Leviticus 19:14, 25:43

    Fear God. Leviticus 19:32, Revelation 14:7

    Thou shalt fear thy God. Leviticus 25:17, 1 Peter 2:17

    Fear thy God. Leviticus 25:36

    Fear the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 6:2, 10:12

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20

    The Lord commanded us ... to fear the LORD our God. Deuteronomy 6:24

    Fear him. Deuteronomy 8:6, 13:4

    Fear the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 31:12, 31:13

    Fear the LORD your God for ever. Joshua 4:24

    Fear the LORD. Joshua 24:14, 1 Samuel 12:24, Proverbs 3:7

    The LORD ... shall ye fear. 2 Kings 17:36

    The LORD your God ye shall fear. 2 Kings 17:39

    The LORD ... is to be feared above all gods. 1 Chronicles 16:25

    Fear before him. 1 Chronicles 16:30, Psalm 96:9

    Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God? Nehemiah 5:9

    O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Psalm 34:9

    Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. Proverbs 23:17

    Fear thou the LORD. Proverbs 24:21

    Fear thou God. Ecclesiastes 5:7

    Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

    Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

    Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:5

09 May 2015

EJ&T: Commandments about the commandments

The commandment that is repeated most often in the Bible is the commandment to obey all of the commandments.

This commandment is repeated 50 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, and although it is never unambiguously stated in the New Testament, it is never explicitly denied there either.

Jesus (sometimes) encouraged his followers to obey all of the commandments.

Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:18-19

It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Luke 16:17

One came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him ... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Luke 19:16-17

And even Paul seemed to agree with Jesus on this (sometimes).
The doers of the law shall be justified. Romans 2:13

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31

(For more on this, see Are the laws of the Old Testament still binding?)

But whatever Jesus and Paul may have thought about it, the God of the Bible is clear enough. All of the commandments are to be followed exactly as they are written, by everyone, always, and forever. They are "an everlasting covenant," binding for "a thousand generations."

God felt so strongly about this, in fact, that he promised to curse anyone who broke the commandments by, among many other things, having their wives raped and forcing them to eat their own children. (See Leviticus 26:14-41 and Deuteronomy 28:15-68 for God's complete list of curses.)

So don't say I didn't warn you.

From the Hebrew Scriptures:

  1. Obey all of the commandments.
  2. Ye shall keep my statutes. Leviticus 19:19

    Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them. Leviticus 19:37

    Ye shall keep my statutes, and do them. Leviticus 20:8

    Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them. Leviticus 20:22

    Therefore shall ye keep my commandments and do them. Leviticus 22:31

    Ye shall keep my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. Leviticus 25:18

    Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you. Deuteronomy 5:32

    Keep all his statutes and his commandments. Deuteronomy 6:2

    Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. Deuteronomy 6:17

    The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes. Deuteronomy 6:24

    It shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. Deuteronomy 6:25

    Keep his commandments to a thousand generations ... Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Deuteronomy 7:9-11

    All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do. Deuteronomy 8:1

    Thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 8:6

    Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 8:11

    Keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good. Deuteronomy 10:13

    Keep his [God's] charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway. Deuteronomy 11:1

    Ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I [God] set before you this day. Deuteronomy 11:32

    These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. Deuteronomy 12:1

    Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 12:28

    What thing soever I command you, observe to do it. Deuteronomy 12:32

    Keep his [God's] commandments. Deuteronomy 13:4

    Carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 15:5

    Thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them. Deuteronomy 19:9

    This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 26:16

    Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice. Deuteronomy 26:17

    And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments. Deuteronomy 26:18

    Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. Deuteronomy 27:1

    Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 27:10

    Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. Deuteronomy 27:27

    Thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left. Deuteronomy 28:14

    If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes ... all these curses shall come upon thee .... Deuteronomy 28:15-68

    Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them. Deuteronomy 29:9

    Obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. Deuteronomy 30:8

    I command thee this day ... to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments. Deuteronomy 30:16

    Observe to do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 31:12

    Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 32:46

    Do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left. Joshua 1:7

    This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. Joshua 1:8

    Do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you ... to keep his commandments. Joshua 22:5

    Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done. Ezra 7:23

    Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations ... an everlasting covenant. 1 Chronicles 16:15-17

    Do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel. 1 Chronicles 16:40

    Keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God. 1 Chronicles 28:8

    Take heed to their way to walk in my law. 2 Chronicles 6:16

    Walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes. Nehemiah 10:29

    Forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. Proverbs 3:1

    Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

    Walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you. Jeremiah 7:23

    Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant ... do them, according to all which I command you. Jeremiah 11:3-4

    Walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. Ezekiel 20:19

  3. Don't add any commandments.
  4. Maimonides #580: Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral explanations
    Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2

    Thou shalt not add thereto. Deuteronomy 12:32

  5. Don't delete any commandments.
  6. Maimonides #581: Not to diminish from the Torah any commandments, in whole or in part .
    Ye shall not ... diminish ought from it [the commandments]. Deuteronomy 4:2

    Thou shalt ... diminish from it. Deuteronomy 12:32

  7. Know all the commandments by heart.
  8. These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. Deuteronomy 6:6

    Lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul. Deuteronomy 11:13

  9. Teach the commandments to your children.
  10. Thou shalt teach them [the commandments] diligently unto thy children. Deuteronomy 6:7

    Ye shall teach them [the commandments] [to] your children. Deuteronomy 1:18

  11. Talk about the commandments.
  12. Talk of them [the commandments] when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:7

    Speaking of them [the commandments] when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 11:19

    This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth. Joshua 1:8

  13. Write the commandments on your hand.
  14. Maimonides #80: Bind tefillin on the arm
    It shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand. Exodus 13:9

    It shall be for a token upon thine hand. Exodus 13:16

    Thou shalt bind them [the commandments] for a sign upon thine hand. Deuteronomy 6:8

    Bind them for a sign upon your hand. Deuteronomy 11:18

  15. Write the commandments on your forehead.
  16. Maimonides #79: Bind tefillin on the head
    It shall be ... a memorial between thine eyes. Exodus 13:9

    It shall be ... for frontlets between thine eyes. Exodus 13:16

    Thou shalt bind them ... as frontlets between thine eyes. Deuteronomy 6:8

    Bind them ... as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 11:18

  17. Write the commandments on your door posts and gates.
  18. Maimonides #81: Write the commandments on each door post
    Thou shalt write them [the commandments] upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Deuteronomy 6:9

    Thou shalt write them [the commandments] upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates. Deuteronomy 11:20

  19. Meditate on the commandments day and night.
  20. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. Joshua 1:8

  21. Put the book of the law in the side of the ark of the covenant.
  22. Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. Deuteromony 31:26

  23. Read the law to all the people in a place that God will choose.
  24. When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. Deuteromony 31:12

  25. The king must write down all of the commandments.
  26. When he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book. Deuteromony 17:18

  27. The king must read the commandments every day of his life.
  28. He [the king] shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them. Deuteromony 17:19

  29. Install magistrates and judges to judge and teach the people according to the commandments.
  30. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. ... Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart. Ezra 7:25-27

  31. Kill, banish, imprison, and/or confiscate the goods of anyone who refuses to obey the commandments.
  32. Whosoever will not do the law of thy God ... let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart. Ezra 7:26-27

From the New Testament:

  1. Don't think Jesus came to destroy the commandments in the Hebrew scriptures.
  2. Think not that I am come to destroy the law. Matthew 5:17

  3. Teach everyone all of Jesus's commandments.
  4. Teach all nations ... Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Matthew 28:18-20

  5. Obey all of the commandments in Second Timothy.
  6. These things command and teach. 1 Timothy 4:11

    I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 1 Timothy 5:21

    These things teach and exhort. 1 Timothy 6:2

    Keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 6:14