The Ten Commandments were God’s standard for right living (5:6-21). To obey them was to obey God. Yet throughout the Old Testament, we can see how each commandment was broken. As you read the stories, notice the tragic consequences that occurred as a result of violating God’s law.
| Ten Commandments | Notable Violations |
| “Thou shalt have none other gods before me.” | Solomon (1 Kings 11) |
| “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image . . . thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them.” | The gold calf-idol incident (Exodus 32); generations after Joshua (Judges 2:10-14; 2 Kings 21:1-15; Jeremiah 1:16) |
| “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.” | Zedekiah (Ezekiel 17:15-21) |
| “Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it.” | Judah (2 Chronicles 36:21) |
| “Honour thy father and thy mother.” | Eli’s sons—Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 2:12, 23-25) |
| “Thou shalt not kill.” | Hazael (2 Kings 8:15) |
| “Neither shalt thou commit adultery.” | David (2 Samuel 11:2-5) |
| “Neither shalt thou steal.” | Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-19) |
| “Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.” | Saul (1 Samuel 15:13-25) |
| “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field . . . or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” | Achan (Joshua 7:19-26) |