Exodus 20:5

Shalt not bow down.

To have or to make another god is to hate the true God. Here let it be observed that in the estimate of God there is no difference between forsaking him for another and hating him. The negative state of indifference to him, or inclination to another, necessarily involves the positive state of hatred to the true God.-- Murphy.

A jealous God.

The passions of. moral being have their right as well as their wrong use. Hence anger, jealousy, hatred and revenge, are ascribed to God, not as passions, but as the feelings of. holy being in regard to that which is evil (Deuteronomy 32:21-22; Deuteronomy 32:35). As the Judge of the universe, God has the supreme right, not only to entertain these feelings, but also to carry out their holy behests in the administration of his everlasting dominion. The term "jealous" is used to bring the idea before the human mind that he will no more tolerate the worship of an alien, idol god, than. husband would tolerate his wife bestowing her affections upon another man.

Iniquity of the fathers upon the children.

All experience shows that the consequences of the sins of parents descend upon children. They inherit the diseases, that have been entailed by the sins of their fathers, or their poverty, or the disgrace of their crimes, or are influenced by their bad examples to lives of crime. Even Spurgeon is said to be afflicted with hereditary gout. The children of thieves are likely to be thieves, and of drunkards to be drunkards.