XXXIV. PREPARATIONS FOR A RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT. (1-4) Before the covenant could be formally reestablished, before Israel could be replaced in the position forfeited by the idolatry of the golden calf, it was necessary that the conditions on which God consented to establish His covenant with them... [ Continue Reading ]
HEW THEE TWO TABLES. — Something is always lost by sin, even when it is forgiven. The first tables were “the work of God” (Exodus 32:16). the second were hewn by the hand of Moses. OF STONE. — Literally, _of stones_ — hewn, _i.e.,_ out of two separate stones, which could not be said of the first ta... [ Continue Reading ]
BE READY IN THE MORNING. — It was necessary to allow an interval for the hewing of the stones. IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNT — _i.e._, in the same place as before. (Comp. Exodus 19:20; Exodus 24:12; Exodus 24:18.)... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN SHALL COME UP WITH THEE... — These stringent commands were new. On the previous occasion, Aaron, Hur, and the elders had ascended the mount part of the way (Exodus 24:9); and Joshua had accompanied his master almost to the summit (Exodus 24:13), and had apparently remained in some part of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD DESCENDED IN THE CLOUD. — When Moses ceased to commune with God, the cloud removed from the door of the “Tent of Meeting,” and, as it would seem, disappeared. On Moses reaching the summit of Sinai it once more became visible, “descended” on the spot where Moses was, and “stood with him ther... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES ALLOWED TO SEE GOD’S GLORY. (5-8) The present ascent of Moses to the top of Sinai had two objects: — (1) The repair of the loss occasioned by his breaking the first tables; and (2) the accomplishment of the promise made to him that (under certain restrictions) he should “see God’s glory.” Com... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD PASSED BY BEFORE HIM. — In this brief phrase we have the entire historical narrative of the manifestation to Moses of God’s glory. For details we must refer to the terms of the promise (Exodus 33:21), which are also characterised by brevity, but still add something to the bare statements of... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES MADE HASTE, AND BOWED HIS HEAD. — As the Divine glory passed before him, Moses bowed his head in adoration, worshipping God, and not daring to look until the glory had gone by. It is thus seen that with his ardent desire to look into the things of God he combined the highest and deepest revere... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COVENANT RENEWED, AND THE DECALOGUE A SECOND TIME GIVEN. (9) IF NOW, I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THY SIGHT. — Rather, _Since now, &c._ The evidences of God’s favour towards him — which Moses had now experienced, emboldened him to prefer fresh requests on behalf of the people. God has promised to go u... [ Continue Reading ]
I MAKE A COVENANT — i.e., “I lay down afresh the terms of the covenant which I am content to make with Israel. I will go with them, and drive out the nations before them (Exodus 34:11), and work miracles on their behalf (Exodus 34:10), and enlarge their borders (Exodus 34:24), and prevent their enem... [ Continue Reading ]
THE AMORITE, AND THE CANAANITE... — The same six nations are particularised in Exodus 3:8; Exodus 3:17, in Exodus 23:23, and also in Exodus 33:2. In Deuteronomy 7:1, and Joshua 3:10; Joshua 24:11, the Girgashites are added, and the number of the nations made seven.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SNARE. — Comp. Exodus 23:33; and for the nature of the snare, see Exodus 34:15 of the present chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
(12-16) This passage may be compared with Exodus 23:24; Exodus 23:32. It repeats, with some enlargements, the enactments there made, and traces in detail the evil consequences which would follow from a neglect of the enactments.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL DESTROY THEIR ALTARS, BREAK THEIR IMAGES, AND CUT DOWN THEIR GROVES. — In the “Book of the Covenant” the command had been simply to “quite break down their images” (Exodus 23:24). Now, after the Israelites had displayed their idolatrous leanings, it is added that they are likewise to destro... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU SHALT WORSHIP NO OTHER GOD. — The images, altars, and groves would, if retained, lead on to the worship of the gods to whom they were dedicated — indeed, they could be retained for no other purpose. Thus their destruction followed, as a corollary, from the second commandment. WHOSE NAME IS... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST THOU MAKE A COVENANT WITH THE INHABITANTS. — If a covenant were made with the idolatrous nations of Canaan, and they were allowed to dwell in the land together with the Israelites (Exodus 23:33), the danger would be, in the first place, that Israel would be induced to partake in the idol-feasts... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE THEE NO MOLTEN GODS. — It is just possible that the Israelites when they worshipped the golden calf may have conceived that they were not breaking the second commandment, which forbade the adoration of any “graven image.” An express law was therefore made against “molten images.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD SHALT THOU KEEP. — Comp. Exodus 12:15; Exodus 13:3; Exodus 23:15. THE MONTH ABIB. — See Note on Exodus 13:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT OPENETH THE MATRIX IS MINE. — Comp. Exodus 13:12, where the sanctification of the firstborn and the law of redemption had already been declared. For the exact mode of redemption sanctioned, see Numbers 18:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRSTLING OF AN ASS. — See Notes 1-3 on Exodus 13:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
The law of the Sabbath meets us at every turn in Exodus. It was so fundamental to the entire polity, that it naturally held a place in every section of the legislation. We have already found it (1) propounded at the giving of the manna (Exodus 16:22); (2) reasserted in the fourth commandment (Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAST OF WEEKS. — Called in Exodus 23:16, “the feast of harvest,” and in the New Testament “the day of Pentecost” — seven weeks after the first day of unleavened bread. (See Note 1 on Exodus 23:16.) The special offering to be made at the feast consisted of “two wave loaves of fine flour, baken w... [ Continue Reading ]
THRICE IN THE YEAR SHALL ALL YOUR MEN-CHILDREN APPEAR BEFORE THE LORD. — On this requirement, and the political value of the three great festivals, see Note on Exodus 23:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL... ENLARGE THY BORDERS. — The promise of “a land” for his posterity made by God to Abraham was twofold. At first it was the “land of Canaan” alone which they were to receive (Genesis 12:5); but subsequently the promise was extended, and made to include the entire tract of territory between “t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT OFFER THE BLOOD OF MY SACRIFICE WITH LEAVEN. — Comp. Exodus 23:18, and the Notes _ad loc. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST OF THE FIRSTFRUITS. — Comp. Exodus 23:19. THOU SHALT NOT SEETHE A KID. — See Note 3 on Exodus 23:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
WRITE THOU THESE WORDS. — Heb., _Write for thee these words,_ i.e., put them in writing for thine own use and the use of thy people. This express command accounts for the assignment of so much space to what is mainly repetition. The requirement of the repetition can only be explained by the importan... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS THERE WITH THE LORD FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS. — As on his former ascent (Exodus 24:18). The long time is, at first sight, surprising, since there were now no instructions to be given. But we learn from Deuteronomy (Exodus 9:18) that it was required for an earnest and prolonged intercession... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DESCENT OF MOSES FROM MOUNT SINAI WITH THE SECOND TABLES. (29) THE SKIN OF HIS FACE SHONE. — That an actual physical phenomenon is intended appears from the entire narrative, as well as from St. Paul’s comment upon it in 2 Corinthians 3:7. According to some commentators, a radiance like that her... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE AFRAID. — The supernatural appearance terrified them. Compare the feelings of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:18) and St. John (Revelation 1:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
TILL MOSES HAD DONE SPEAKING WITH THEM, HE PUT A VAIL ON HIS FACE. — This translation exactly inverts the meaning, which is that “_when_ Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.” The vail became part of his ordinary costume, and was worn excepting upon occasions of two kinds: (1... [ Continue Reading ]