Exodus 20:22–26

The Lord is beyond human understanding, as shown by his speaking to the people with a voice from heaven (20:22).

This had two effects on their practices:

• They could not use silver or gold to make human-shaped gods (20:23).

• They could not carve stones for an altar (20:25). This might be to prevent them from carving stone gods. They must make the altar from earth and uncut stones (20:24, 25).

The rule against revealing nakedness might have been to distinguish Israelite religious practices from the nature worship around them (20:26). Sexual activity was a key part of many Canaanite ceremonies.