15th Command: You shall not Covet

COMMAND

Exodus 20:17 KJV
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Definition of Covet click HERE

NOTE: Some may say this is 7 commandments in one verse, “House” “Wife” “Manservant” etc. However, we think the first command “thy neighbor’s house” includes all the commands after.  The list is stating everything in the house hence the final command says “nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s”.

REPEATED

Deuteronomy 5:21 KJV – 21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

WARNING

Deuteronomy 7:25 KJV – The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

EXAMPLE

Example of how covetousness leads to murder.

2 Samuel 11:1 KJV
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:2 KJV
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 2 Samuel 11:3 KJV
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 2 Samuel 11:4 KJV
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 2 Samuel 11:5 KJV
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. 2 Samuel 11:6 KJV
And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 2 Samuel 11:7 KJV
And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 2 Samuel 11:8 KJV
And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. 2 Samuel 11:9 KJV
But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 2 Samuel 11:10 KJV
And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? 2 Samuel 11:11 KJV
And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 2 Samuel 11:12 KJV
And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. 2 Samuel 11:13 KJV
And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. 2 Samuel 11:14 KJV
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 2 Samuel 11:15 KJV
And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 2 Samuel 11:16 KJV
And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 2 Samuel 11:17 KJV
And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.