Deuteronomy 5:7

The First Commandment as in Exodus 20:3.

in front of me a strong phrase, but of what exact degree of strength is doubtful. Literally over against my face, or presence. By D it is elsewhere (Deuteronomy 21:16) taken as in precedence, or preference, to; but in Job 16:14 it merely means in addition to. Calvin regards in preference toas -too frigid" here, not sufficiently exclusive of other gods; and takes the idea to be -that God will not have companions obtruded upon Him." Others expand -as if to provoke Him" or -dare Him to His face." Unless some sense of rivalry is meant the phrase is superfluous to the rest of the commandment; and the selection of the strongest of three kindred forms (-al-pânai, "eth-p., and lephânai) suggests some idea of affrontingor provoking(cf. Deuteronomy 5:9). There is no statement here as to the real existence of other gods: real or unreal Israel is not to have them. Unlike its successors this commandment is without expansion, probably because Deuteronomy 5:9 b, Deuteronomy 5:10 were intended to cover both the first and second commandments; unless indeed (as some suggest) they originally belonged to the first.