Chapter Thirty-Four
New Tablets and a New Start
34:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.
Now that the covenant was going to be reestablished with the Israelites, the broken tablets that contained God’s law and commandments needed to be replaced. Moses was to prepare two more tablets just like the ones God had provided previously (see Exodus 32:16), instead of being prepared by God, Moses had to chisel out the replacement tablets. God is not just reminding Moses that he broke the tablets; He is stating the fact that the covenant was broken. The Israelites had broken the covenant they agreed to obey.
It is interesting to note that later in verse 27, God has Moses write the words on the replacement tablets, not Him, as this verse seems to suggest. Some point out that the translation only implies the “I will,” clause and should be translated as “cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first and write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets.”
34:2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain.
Moses had to prepare the tablets and be consecrated by the next morning (see Exodus 19:10). He was to climb back up the mountain to present himself to God on the top of Mount Sinai.
34:3 No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.”
Moses was to be the only one near the mountain, no one, not even their flocks or herds were to be near Mount Sinai, perhaps since God will also be revealing Himself to Moses as promised (see Exodus 33:.20-23).
34:4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
Moses prepared the stone tablets and went up to the top of Mount Sinai as YHWH commanded him to do. God then descended in a cloud and stood with Moses and proclaimed: YHWH, YHWH, God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love (can also be translated as kindness, goodness, mercy, lovingkindness) and faithfulness. All these are attributes of a loving and caring God that Moses probably already knew (although he did ask to know God better and now, he is learning), however, after the golden calf incident, he probably needed reassurance.
It is interesting to note that the phrase, “slow to anger,” is in the Hebrew text, “ě’rěḵ[1] ‘ǎp·pǎ’·yim,”[2] meaning “long (or drawn out) nose.” The expression relates to how anger can be seen on one’s face, especially noted with flared-out nostrils.[3] God having a long nose is an ancient Hebrew idiomatic expression referring to Him being just as it is translated, slow to anger.
34:7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
God continues by saying His love is steadfast for thousands, this is not a reference to a number of people or years, it is generally accepted to be a reference to a thousand generations (Hebrew word ‘ǎlā·pîm[4]’). Used in this context the ‘thousands’ should not be considered a literal number but as a reference to eternity, where He will continue to forgive iniquity (Hebrew ‘ā·wōn’,[5] evil, guilt in perverting); forgive transgression (Hebrew ‘pě’·šǎ’,[6] rebellion); and forgive sin (Hebrew ‘ḥǎṭ·ṭā·ā(h)’,[7] sin, indiscretions, etc.), but, will not “nǎq·qēh yenǎq·qě(h),”[8] or leave unpunished, the unpunished. In other words, God will not acquit the guilty, those that do not repent. The last half of this verse is often misunderstood. This is not a reference to an ongoing punishment for something that was done by punishing multiple generations, this is a reference to how sin is often repeated by the sinner’s offspring.[9]
34:8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
Moses, now having a better understanding of who God is and learning about His incredible attributes, is apparently overwhelmed with joy. Recognizing the nature of God, Moses cannot contain himself any longer and falls to the ground and worships Him. Knowing that God is a God of steadfast love and patience, and one willing to forgive, Moses makes a formal plea, speaking for the people. He asks God to go in their midst and forgive them of their iniquity and sin, and to take them to the Promised Land.
The Covenant Renewed
34:10 And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
Even though the Hebrew word ‘hin·nē(h)’[10] appears over on thousand times in the Old Testament, the definition is hard to express in a single English word, which is normally translated simply as ‘behold’. As discussed earlier,[11] the word generally conveys something special and often supernatural. Here, God is not just saying ‘okay’ or ‘yes’ to Moses’ inquiry, He is emphatically saying that He is making a covenant with them, where He will do marvels (Hebrew ‘nip·lā·’ōṯ’,[12] something wonderful, extraordinary, like a miracle), such as not ever been experienced on earth before. In addition these marvels will be able to be seen by the people, as they will be truly awesome (Hebrew ‘nô·rā(‘)’, a verb meaning to fear, to respect, to reverence).[13]
34:11 “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 12 Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst.
This is still a conditional covenant, as they are to observe and keep God’s law. God promises to drive out the current occupants of the land that He promised them. God warns them to not have any relations with the inhabitants, including that they are not to have any treaties or covenants or any kind, as these agreements will become a snare (Hebrew word ‘mô·qēš’,[14] a trap, bait, etc.) to them.
34:13 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),
How would these people groups or any agreement with them be a snare or a trap? These were all pagan nations, each embracing gods and worship practices that were an abomination to God. One of their first tasks upon conquering and entering into the land, was to tear down their altars, break their pillars (Hebrew ‘mǎṣ·ṣē·ḇōṯ’,[15] blocks of stone usually erected for memorial, here used as monuments to pagan gods, often as part of their rituals) and cut down their Asherim. Asherah was the Canaanite fertility goddess (Baal was the male counterpart), and the Asherim is a reference to the poles (early translations used the word ‘groves’), or carved wooden images of Asherah, that were used in many of their rituals. They were not to have any item, object, accoutrement, or thing that had any connection to an idol or worship of a false god, they were to worship YHWH alone, whose name is Jealous (Hebrew ‘Qǎn·nā(‘)’).[16] Variations of the name ‘Asherah’ are numerous, including Venus, Ashtoreth, and Astarte. Almost every people group in history has an equivalent female goddess.
34:15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.
God warns that if a covenant is made with the inhabitants of the land, the lure into pagan worship is both gradual and dangerous. It begins with them being invited to witness their sexual rituals and sacrificial offerings to their gods and eat of the meat sacrificed. Soon intermarriage between the two people groups begins, and while their daughters become involved in their sexual rituals, they will make the Israelite sons do the same, soon God is out of their lives.
34:17 “You shall not make for yourself any gods of cast metal.
Even though the commandment was given, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:4), this seems to be a reminder to Moses, and later to the people, that the commandment also applies to any gods casted out of metal.
34:18 “You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt.
God repeats His command to celebrate the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” in the spring (see Exodus 12:15-20; 13:3-10; 23:15). This feast was to remind the Israelites that God had redeemed them from slavery. This verse and the following eight verses are duplicate commands given earlier that focus primarily on the covenant relationship between God and His people.
34:19 All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20 The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed.
The firstborn Israelites were saved from the tenth plague in Egypt by applying the blood from lamb on the night of the Passover. God then gave the Israelites the instructions for them to consecrate all future firstborn, man and animal, and were to be redeemed (see Exodus 13:1-2, 11-13). All the offerings were to be made as scheduled, and no one was to appear before God empty-handed (see Exodus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16).
34:21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.
God reiterates the requirement for the Sabbath (see Exodus 20:8-11; 23:12), even if the Sabbath occurs during planting (plowing time) or during a harvest. The Sabbath was to be a day of rest.
34:22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end.
The next festival that was to be observed was the Feast of Weeks, to offer the firstfruits of the wheat harvest in late spring, was also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16), followed by the Feast of Ingathering (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles).[17]
34:23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel. 24 For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.
God repeats the requirement of all males that can appear before YHWH (see Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16) during those three festivals (often referred to as the “pilgrimage festivals,” namely the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Ingathering). God promises to protect their land, homes, and families while the men are away during these three festivals. They were to travel to wherever the Tabernacle was and then later, after the Temple is built, they would travel to Jerusalem.
34:25 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover remain until the morning. 26 The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
God again states that none of the blood that is to be used in any sacrifice offered to Him was to have anything leavened accompany (or touch) it (see Exodus 23:18). Nor were they to allow any of the fat sacrificed for Passover to remain until morning (see Exodus 12:10; 23:18). The best portions of any firstfruits grown was to be brought to Him (see Exodus 23:19). And finally, a young goat was never to be boiled in its mother’s milk (see commentary under Exodus 23:19).
34:27 And the LORD said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Instead of God writing the words onto the tablets as He did on the first set of tablets (see Exodus 31:18), He has Moses write them on the second set (see commentary under verse one above). Moses stayed on top of Mount Sinai with YHWH the same amount of time as his last visit, forty days and forty nights. He fasted the entire time he was with God, neither eating nor drinking. He wrote on the tablets, just as he was instructed, the words of the covenant and the ten words (Hebrew ‘deḇā·rîm’,[18] meaning ‘words’, translated here as ‘commandments’).
Considerations
Many question how someone could survive forty days without water. It is a well-known fact that the human body generally cannot survive more than a few days without water, perhaps as long as one week, but certainly not forty days and nights. So how did Moses survive being on top of Mount Sinai without food or water that long? The simplest and the best answer is that God, the source and creator of all life, was able to nourish and sustain Moses without eating or drinking. When we encounter something difficult to believe or perhaps something that we cannot relate to, we need to always remember that with God, nothing is impossible.
The Shining Face of Moses
34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
When Moses came down after the forty days and nights with the tablets, he was unaware that his face was radiant. Having been near God had an interesting side effect, apparently so astonishing that people feared him. The Israelites would not come near him.
34:31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
Moses called out and talked with Aaron and the leaders and convinced them that there was nothing to be afraid of. Soon the people of Israel came to him as well. At that time Moses told them everything that YHWH had told him on Mount Sinai. When he finished, he put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not be distracted by the glow.
34:34 Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Whenever Moses went in before YHWH to speak with Him (undoubtedly referring to the tent of meeting), he would remove the face covering. When he came out to speak to the people about what God had commanded, they would see his facing shining. Then Moses would cover his face again until the next time he went in to see God.
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[1] Strong’s Hebrew 750.
[2] Strong’s Hebrew 639.
[3] See commentary under Exodus 15:7-8.
[4] See commentaries under Exodus 12:37 and 20:6.
[5] Strong’s Hebrew 5771.
[6] Strong’s Hebrew 6588.
[7] Strong’s Hebrew 2403.
[8] Strong’s Hebrew 5352 twice.
[9] See commentary under Exodus 20:5.
[10] Strong’s Hebrew 2009.
[11] See commentary under Genesis 6:17.
[12] Strong’s Hebrew 6381.
[13] Strong’s Hebrew 3372. See commentary under Genesis 28:16-22.
[14] Strong’s Hebrew 4170.
[15] Strong’s Hebrew 4676.
[16] See commentary under Exodus 20:5.
[17] See commentary under Exodus 23:16-17.
[18] Strong’s Hebrew 1697.