The Laws for Humans

Mauro Biglino presented a video discussing the Noahide laws, which, according to Jewish tradition, were given by God, known as Elohim, to Noah and his descendants. These laws are intended to apply to all of humanity.

He explained that out of these seven laws, six are prohibitions, and only one is a positive command, which is to establish courts of justice.

Comparison with Mosaic Laws

Biglino then draws a parallel with the laws that God supposedly gave to Moses, which are exclusively intended for the people of Israel.

He expresses relief at not being subject to these laws. However, he points out an interesting aspect regarding the discussion of the Decalogue, which he intends to highlight in his talk.

Archaeological Discoveries in the Middle East

Biglino references an article about a recent discovery in the Middle East, specifically in Israel, by teams of Israeli archaeologists. These archaeologists found sites where worship was reserved for Yahweh and, more generally, for El, by various members of Abraham’s family branches.

The interesting aspect, aside from the debates among archaeologists regarding the interpretation of these sites, is that these populations referred to these Els, in this case Yahweh, as gods or as a God who provided rules and teachings.

The Concept of Elohim

Biglino notes that this aligns with the general view he has been presenting for years: that a group of Elohim gave various populations—Moabites, Ammonites, Amalekites, Edomites, and Israelites—a series of rules and regulations, which also included practical teachings such as metallurgy.

Mosaic Commandments

Biglino then turns his attention to the rules of behavior, the so-called commandments or “mitzvot” that Yahweh allegedly gave to Moses. He clarifies that these are not just the ten commandments commonly known. Yahweh gave Moses 613 rules, of which 248 are positive commandments (“you shall”), and the remaining 365 are prohibitions. He explains that these prohibitions served as a significant tool of control and power.

Health and Hygiene Laws

Biglino emphasizes that more than half, or perhaps almost two-thirds, of these rules have a sanitary and hygienic character because the Elohim needed to prevent the spread of diseases that could decimate their populations in a short time.

The Decalogue

Among these 613 commandments, Biglino notes that in the West, people have been taught the so-called Decalogue, the ten commandments that are widely known. He states that he will not examine all of them because his focus is different. Instead, he aims to show how the Decalogue considered fundamental in the Bible differs from what is commonly taught.

Focus on Prohibitions

Biglino highlights that in the ten commandments commonly taught, nine of them are prohibitions. Only one does not contain a prohibition, which underscores how this God of love, as he is often called, primarily issued prohibitions rather than teaching people to love one another.

First Commandment

Biglino examines the first commandment in the Decalogue found in the Book of Exodus, which says: “I am Yahweh, your Elohim.” While the catechism translates this as “I am the Lord your God,” Biglino prefers to keep the original wording. Yahweh says, “You shall have no other Elohim before me,” meaning “You shall have no other gods before me,” not that these gods do not exist.

The Forgotten Commandment

Biglino points out a significant commandment that has been completely forgotten, not by Jews but by Christians, especially Catholics, which is the prohibition against making idols or images. Despite this, he observes that Catholics worship statues, images, and idols, which he believes is in total disregard of this commandment that Yahweh never revoked.

The Fourth Commandment

Biglino moves on to discuss the fourth commandment, the only one that does not contain an explicit prohibition. It says: “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your Elohim is giving you.” He references Jewish scholar Lia Bat Adam, who explains that honoring one’s parents means taking care of them, especially in their old age.

Punishments for Disobedience

Biglino cites Exodus 21, where it is written that whoever strikes or curses their parents shall be put to death. This is why the commandment to honor one’s parents is crucial—disobedience could result in death, thus shortening one’s life.

The True Meaning of “Do Not Kill”

Biglino explains that the commandment “Do not kill” does not mean “do not kill” in a general sense, but rather “do not kill your neighbor in your tent,” as explained by the rabbis. It forbids premeditated murder within the community, but there are numerous instances in the Bible where killing is commanded.

The Other Decalogue

Biglino reveals that there is another set of commandments in the Bible, found in Exodus 34, after Moses broke the first set of tablets. Yahweh instructs Moses to carve two new tablets, and Yahweh would write on them the words that were on the first tablets. This Decalogue includes laws such as not making alliances with other nations, not worshiping other gods, and not making idols.

Conclusion on the Decalogues

Biglino concludes by noting that the Decalogue in Exodus 34 forms the basis of the covenant that Yahweh made with Moses and the people of Israel, not with all of humanity. He emphasizes that the ethical and moral teachings commonly known today are an elaboration of a subset of these laws, chosen and reworked into an ethical and moral framework.