What is the Table of the Covenant?

The past, which is colorfully described in the Bible, has been repeatedly questioned by various scholars and philistines. Especially since the existence of the Mosaic scripture - God's letter, his commandments and laws for the Jewish people - has not yet been scientifically proven.

What is the tablets?

This word is not so often used in modern language, but at one time it was quite common. What is the Tablet? Previously, so designated special writing equipment. These are stone, wooden or paper plates, on which memorable and significant dates, names and events were recorded. Also in ancient times the expression "wrecked tablets" was used to refer to decrepit and aged scientists.

What is this in sacred biblical meaning? In ancient scripture, the tablets are two solid stone tablets on which the main ethical and universal laws were inscribed by God. These first stone tablets were handed over to Moses on the Sinai mountain, sacred to the Jews.

Where did these plates originate from?

Moses (the great Jewish leader) after escaping from Egypt lived for a long time in alienation. He passed a few herds of his father-in-law in the barren Sinai desert. At one fine and sacred moment, God turned to him. It happened near the mountain Horev. Out of the burning bush, God called to Moses and said to save the long-suffering, pampering Jewish people from the oppression, and to take him from Egypt to the land of Canaan.

After a successful outcome, they wander together in the desert, but without food and water. Finally, having defeated the militant Amalekites, the Israelites approached Mount Sinai. There, after 40 days and nights spent, Moses is awarded the laws of the Covenant, which should serve as a single set of commandments for the Jewish people. Taking the stone tablets, the leader and prophet descends to his brethren.

What was written on the tables of the Covenant

God gave his flock 10 sacred commandments, which no true Jew should violate. However, their content today is known not only by the descendants of Moses, but also by many Christians. So, the tables of the sacred Covenant contained the following universal commandments:

• God is one and there should not be other deities for the Jews;
• There can not be any images of the deity;
• The name of God should not be mentioned in vain;
• Saturday must be celebrated;
• You need to honor your own parents;
• You can not kill;
• It is forbidden to be libertine;
• You can not steal;
• It is not worthy to bear false witness against your neighbor;
• It is forbidden to desire a wife, a house and the wealth of one's neighbor.

It was these ethical norms that were put on the tablets. Their meaning is known to everyone.

Where are the tablets kept?

It is known from biblical sources that the first divine tables were broken by Moses in anger at his people. When the prophet came down, he saw that his countrymen worshiped the material god, the golden calf. The next, newly recorded tablets, Moses, as God commanded him, put in a special wooden ark. At first this kiwot (ark) was kept in the portable Tabernacle tent. Then he was transferred to the Temple of Solomon, which is in the glorious city of Jerusalem. With him the troops of Israel for a long time went to war. After all, what is the Tablet? It is a symbol of the presence of God.

As the legends say, because of numerous wars, King Yoshiyaga hid the sacred ark from all invaders. Another version says that the tablets were taken to Babylon after the conquest and destruction of the Jerusalem temple. In any case, the location of the sacred Jewish script is now unknown.

At the moment, many scholars, Bible scholars, doubt the truthfulness of the existence of both Moses and the tablets of the Covenant brought to them. Some also argue about what a tablet is. What if it's just a biblical allegory? Or a way to legitimize the universal ethical norms of existence. After all, how else can people be governed, not by laws written by God himself? For their non-fulfillment, every person is punished not simply by death or imprisonment, but by the loss of the Kingdom of God. And this is the best motivation and deterrence for any sinner.

However, maybe in the distant future some archaeologist or a simple traveler will find the great Ark of the Covenant. And this will be the loudest and most stunning discovery for our sinful world. And the question, what is the tablet, will no longer sound from the lips of children.