Exodus 20:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Ye have seen that I spoke unto you from heaven; ye shall not make unto me gods of silver, nor gods of gold, neither shall ye make unto yourselves.' He would not permit the worship of false deities; instead, He commands that we dedicate ourselves to the One who reigns from above, who is sovereign over all creation, not in earthly majesty, but in the divine glory revealed to Him from heaven.

Before Moses ascended the mountain for forty days, he presented the people with a concise summary of God's laws and commands, formally given after the proclamation of the law (see Ex. 24:3, 13). This summary, known as the 'Book of the Covenant' (Ex. 24:7), is thought to comprise the ordinances that appear at the conclusion of that chapter in sections XXI, XXII, and XXIII. The Book of the Covenant seemingly includes ancient statutes, rooted in the patriarchal era, now affirmed by God's will. Some of these laws foreshadow Israel’s future experiences in Palestine, as they had yet to be condemned to a prolonged journey in the wilderness. This code was intended to guide the people during Moses’ absence and was later expanded with additional laws. The people listened to it (see ch. XXIV), pledged to obey everything inscribed within it, and soon fell away from God’s commandments. The Code begins with a prohibition against creating an image of God (v. 23) and provides instructions for constructing altars (vv. 24-26). Commentators note that the altars described in verses 24 and 25 reflect the ancient nature of such constructions, likely established during the times of Noah’s descendants and Abraham. Their design and method of construction have been faithfully preserved through tradition.