The argument over posting the Ten Commandments is more significant that we might suppose. Not only does the Book of Deuteronomy provide for writing them on house posts and gates, but for regularly speaking of them to children upon arising, when sitting in the house, before going to bed, and when walking by the way.

Since people are motivated by fear to love and obey authority, the Contract for the Promised Land also specifies the punishment for infractions: death by stoning. In the event people fail to enforce the law, a long series of curses are bound to follow, the sum of which is Hell on Earth.

To further impress the importance of obedience, Moses composed a Warning Song to be taught to the children of Israel, reminding them of the benefits of obedience and of the terrible consequences that are sure to follow when Israel, as usual, gets fat, corrupt, and abandons its Rock of Salvation.

There are other laws set forth in Deuteronomy besides the Ten described on the Two Tablets. Several urge a great deal of love and compassion for the oppressed, for strangers, for the needy; affection is even extended to birds, trees, and oxen. Indeed, if the Rock is not forsaken, the land of milk and honey is assured. Even the severe punishments are evidence of Yahweh's love for Israel.

Deuteronomy provides for ample written and oral schooling of children, so that both the literate and the illiterate have access to the higher education. In ancient times, the education written on the house posts and gates was supplemented by oral education provided by each father to his son. Unfortunately, before the establishment of formal schools, a fatherless son or the son of an ignorant man received inadequate instruction.

Although scripture does not mention the existence of schools in the most ancient times, there were in fact a few schools even prior to the Babylonian exile. In any event, it was inconceivable for any Hebrew child to be brought up without learning the Torah.

A universal elementary school system for boys was developed immediately preceding the exile and during the centuries following the destruction of the Second Temple. A copy of the Torah was requisite for each school. The teachers charged with introducing boys to the high life were more highly esteemed than students’ fathers.

Each student was required to bring supplies to schools, including little parchment rolls, or readers, which included the Ten Commandments. The Torah had to be recited loudly: residents occasionally sued to keep schools out of their neighborhoods.

Most importantly, the pupils were provoked to ask intelligent questions. Use of the rod on children who failed to do so was prohibited in favor of the strap: some boys were strapped daily for their own good.  The more clever the question, the better it was received and responded to.

Simply reading the laws of the good life and placing the words in a box or book for safekeeping will not suffice for mutual and continuous education. Neither will posting the laws on walls in plain view: most people will eventually pass them by without the slightest notice or consideration: the sorry business shall continue as usual.

Superstitious people are inclined to worship the Decalogue itself, but unless the law is firmly planted in our hearts and continuously cultivated in our respective skulls, it may serve a vain fetish and even inspire hatred of the community.  

Therefore, before posting the Decalogue or any other law we must have and be in the spirit of the law. Perhaps asking clever questions of ourselves and of each other shall bring us into a more intimate conversation with and in that spirit. It is only through asking questions that the student is finally counseled by the voice of silence in the perfect eternity where all questions are moot and no further questions are meet.