“All pay heed!” cries Mel Brooks, playing Moses in History of the World, Part I–”The Lord has given unto you these Fifteen Commandments!” He promptly drops one tablet, which shatters. Without missing a beat, Moses continues: “Uh, these Ten Commandments!” It’s a classic movie moment, albeit one with little support from the Bible (or from the Talmud and Midrash,…
