A detailed and devotional scene from Christianity, inspired by Exodus 20.18-21.6. First, a landscape with thunder, lightning, and a smoking mountain; a crowd of people standing at a distance, expressing fear. Second, Moses approaching the thick darkness where God is believed to reside. To the side, an altar of earth with burnt offerings on it, and a repeating motif of un-hewn stone altars. Lastly, depict different scenes revolving around the life of a Hebrew slave: coming into service alone or with his wife, being given a wife who bears him children, or finally, declaring his loyalty before a door or doorpost, where his ear is pierced. This scene is depicted in an iconography art style with muted, pastel colors and flat, elongated figures common to Byzantine religious art, with an emphasis on symbolism, and the avoidance of any text or words.

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Exodus 20.18-21.6 20 18 When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, 19 and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.’ 20 Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.’ 21 Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. 22 The Lord said to Moses: Thus you shall say to the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I spoke with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make gods of silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 You need make for me only an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt-offerings and your offerings of well-being, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 But if you make for me an altar of stone, do not build it of hewn stones; for if you use a chisel upon it you profane it. 26 You shall not go up by steps to my altar, so that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’ 21 1 These are the ordinances that you shall set before them: 2 When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years, but in the seventh he shall go out a free person, without debt. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave declares, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out a free person’, 6 then his master shall bring him before God. He shall be brought to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him for life.

Exodus 20:18

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

Art Style

Iconography

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