Exodus 34 - Introduction
_THE TABLES ARE RENEWED: MOSES GOES UP INTO THE MOUNT, WHERE THE NAME OF_ THE LORD _IS PROCLAIMED: THE LORD RENEWETH THE COVENANT, AND MOSES DESCENDS AGAIN FROM THE MOUNTAIN._ _Before Christ 1491._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE TABLES ARE RENEWED: MOSES GOES UP INTO THE MOUNT, WHERE THE NAME OF_ THE LORD _IS PROCLAIMED: THE LORD RENEWETH THE COVENANT, AND MOSES DESCENDS AGAIN FROM THE MOUNTAIN._ _Before Christ 1491._... [ Continue Reading ]
HEW THEE TWO TABLES OF STONE, &C.— See Exodus 34:28. God being reconciled through Moses's intercession, the covenant is renewed. REFLECTIONS.—1. Moses is commanded to hew new tables for God to write upon, instead of those which were broken. _Note;_ (1.) Wherever God through Christ is reconciled to... [ Continue Reading ]
PROCLAIMED THE NAME OF THE LORD— Moses desired to see the _glory_ of the Lord, ch. Exodus 33:18. The Lord promises to shew him his _goodness;_ and, accordingly, _he passes by before him,_ proclaiming _his Name,_ the Deliverer and Covenant-God of the Hebrews; and also his attributes, at once of mercy... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT WILL BY NO MEANS CLEAR THE GUILTY— There is nothing for the _guilty_ in the Hebrew: and Houbigant well observes, that the connective particle being placed before this clause, and none before the next, _visiting the iniquity,_ &c. it is plain, that this former part of the sentence refers to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, IF NOW I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THY SIGHT— This verse might be rendered, _and he said, since now I have found grace in thy sight, let my LORD,_ אדני _adoni_ [an unquestionable name or title of the MESSIAH] _I pray thee, go amongst us; though it be a stiff-necked people: for thou wilt pardo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, BEHOLD, I MAKE A COVENANT— The terms of this covenant are delivered in this and the 11th verse: God promises to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan on his part; the Israelites, on theirs, were to do what is enjoined in the 12th and following verses. In the Hebrew the first part of this... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR IMAGES— I should imagine that the original word מצבתם _matzebotam,_ signifies _pillars_ or something of that kind, dedicated to the צבא _zaba_ or _hosts of heaven._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD, WHOSE NAME IS JEALOUS— See note on ch. Exodus 20:5 where we have observed, that the context shews this word to signify the jealousy of a husband; in which relation the Lord was pleased to represent himself towards Israel, _Thy Maker is thy Husband:_ and on this account it is, that idolatry... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU EAT OF HIS SACRIFICE— Eating of sacrifices offered to false gods, was an express declaration of communicating in the worship of those gods: this will shew the force of St. Paul's reasoning, 1 Corinthians 10:20. REFLECTIONS.—God graciously answers Moses in the renewal of his covenant with them;... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY FIRSTLING AMONG THY CATTLE, &C.— Or, _Every male-firstling of thy cattle, either of ox or sheep._... [ Continue Reading ]
EARING-TIME— See Genesis 45:6. It is remarkable, with what minute care the observation of the sabbath is constantly provided for: no season, not even the most laborious and busy, was to exempt them from this duty.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN DESIRE THY LAND— Almost every thing in the Jewish policy tends to prove the immediate interposition of God with them. But nothing can prove it more strongly, than that restraint which the Lord here promises to lay, and which in after-times he did lay, upon the minds of their en... [ Continue Reading ]
WRITE THOU THESE WORDS, &C.— What was before spoken, is now committed to writing; and abundant cause have we to bless God, that his word is thus transmitted to us, and not left to oral tradition. A covenant is entered into between God and Moses in behalf of the people of Israel: thus peace is re-est... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WROTE UPON THE TABLES— To try the patience of the people, Moses was detained a second time for _forty days and forty nights_ in the mount with the Lord; where he, (i.e. the Lord; see Exodus 34:1 and Deuteronomy 10:4.) renewing his covenant with the people, wrote upon the tables the ten comman... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES WIST NOT THAT THE SKIN OF HIS FACE SHONE— Moses did not _know_ that the divine glory communicated itself to his face, and caused it to _shine_ or _irradiate,_ while he conversed with God. The word rendered _shine,_ is קרן _karan,_ which signifies primarily to _irradiate, shoot forth,_ or _emit... [ Continue Reading ]