that because the wholehearted acceptance of the unity of God is the root and foundation of Judaism, God's first words to the Israelites at Mount Sinai in (20:2–3 in NJPS) and (5:6–7 in NJPS) were: "I am the Lord your God . . . you shall not have other gods before Me," and then God exhorted the Israelites through Moses, saying in : "Hear O Israel the Lord, is our God, the Lord is One." Baḥya ibn Paquda read the words "You shall not murder" in (20:13 in NJPS) and (5:17 in NJPS) to prohibit suicide, as well as murdering any other human being. Baḥya reasoned that the closer the murdered is to the murderer, the more the punishment should be severe, and thus the punishment for those who kill themselves will undoubtedly be very great. Baḥya taught that for that reason, people should not recklessly endanger their lives. Citing (5:18 in NJPS), Baḥya ibn Paquda taught that not to covet is a leading example of an negative duty of the heart. Interpreting the prohibition of coveting in (20:14 in NJSP) and desiring in (5:18 in NJPS), Maimonides taught that any person who covets a servant, a maidservant, a house, or utensils that belong to a colleague, or any other article that the person can purchase from the colleague and pressures the colleague with friends and requests until the colleague agrees to sell, violates a negative commandment, even though the person pays much money for it, as (20:14 in NJSP) says, "Do not covet." Maimonides taught that the violation of this commandment was not punished by lashes, because it does not involve a deed. Maimonides taught that a person does not violate (20:14 in NJSP) until the person actually takes the article that the person covets, as reflected by "Do not covet the gold and silver on these statues and take it for yourself." Maimonides read the word for "covet" in both (20:14 in NJSP) and to refer to coveting accompanied by a deed. Maimonides taught that a person who desires a home, a spouse, utensil, or anything else belonging to a colleague that the person can acquire violates a negative commandment when the person thinks in the person's heart how it might be possible to acquire this thing from the colleague. Maimonides read (5:18 in NJPS), "Do not desire," to refer even to feelings in the heart alone. Thus,