Exodus 34:3

The precautions are similar to those taken in Exodus 19:12 f.

before rather, in front of, i.e. on the slopes in front of the mountain, towards its foot.

As was pointed out on p. 347, the historical retrospect in Deuteronomy 9:8-29 is based largely upon Exodus 32, and contains numerous verbal excerpts from it; and a comparison of Deuteronomy 10:1-3 with Exodus 34:1; Exodus 34:4 makes it practically certain that in the text of Exodus 34:1; Exodus 34:4 which lay before the author of Dt., there was mention of the arkas made at this time by Moses. Here is the text of Deuteronomy 10:1-3, with the words excerpted from Exodus 34:1-2; Exodus 34:4 printed in italics: -(Deuteronomy 10:1) At that time Jehovah said untome, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come upunto meto the mount, and make thee an ark of wood; (2) that I may write upon the tables the words that were on the first tables, which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. (3) And I made an ark of acacia-wood; andI hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, andI went upto the mount; and the two tableswere inmy hand." Thus in Dt. Moses is instructed to make, and actually does make, the ark, beforeascending the mount the second time to receive the tables of stone (Exodus 34:4); whereas in Ex. the command to make the ark is both given to Bezalel and executed by him, afterMoses" return from the mountain (Exodus 35:30 ff., Exodus 36:2; Exodus 37:1 all passages belonging to P). The two accounts are evidently discrepant: and there can be no reasonable doubt that the notices of the ark contained in the original text of Exodus 34:1; Exodus 34:4 were omitted by the compiler, as inconsistent with the more detailed particulars, which he preferred, contained in the narrative of P.