Quote from the Bible
17. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
My interpretation what it means
This Commandment is a little tricky to bring up to modern specifications. At the time of its writing men’s wives were their properties. The word covet is an odd word and I believe the meaning closest is jealousy with an intent to take. So it might be that the Commandment meant you must not desire to raid and steal from your neighbors.
How it relates to US Law
There are laws regarding conspiracy to commit crimes by a group of people, but this commandment doesn’t mention conspiracy – it addresses individuals. I’m not sure any US laws really reflect this commandment properly, and certainly nothing in the US Constitution does.
Commentary
At the founding of our nation this Commandment was nowhere in the decision process. They were concerned with protecting the People from tyranny, and the more common laws were drawn from, well, common law.
The next post will be a recap, so I’ll reserve further comment for the moment.
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