parsha bit: Yitro

[cellio]

Why was it necessary for God to begin the Aseret HaDibrot (ten utterances) with "I am the Lord your God"? God appeared at the sea of reeds as a man waging war, at Sinai as a pedagogue teaching torah, in the time of Solomon as a young man, and in the time of Daniel as an old man showing mercy. This proclamation was lest the people think there were many gods. (Yalkut, Yitro 286)