Exodus 34:13 Kommentar

God having in the foregoing chapter intimated to Moses his reconciliation to Israel, here gives proofs of it, proceeding to settle his covenant and communion with them. Four instances of the return of his favour we have in this chapter: - I. The orders he gives to Moses to come up to the mount, the next morning, and bring two tables of stone with him (Exo 34:1-4). II. His meeting him there, and the proclamation of his name (Exo 34:5-9). III. The instructions he gave him there, and his converse with him for forty days together, without intermission (v. 10-28). IV. The honour he put upon him when he sent him down with his face shining (Exo 34:29-35). In all this God dealt with Moses as a public person, and mediator between him and Israel, and a type of the great Mediator.

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 34 In this chapter Moses has orders to hew two tables of stone, that God might write on them the ten commands, and bring them up with him to the mount, Exo 34:1 where the Lord proclaimed his name, and caused his glory and his goodness to pass before him, Exo 34:5 when Moses took this favourable opportunity that offered to pray for the people, that God would forgive their sin, and go along with them, Exo 34:8 upon which he made a covenant with them, which on his part was to do wonders for them, and drive out the inhabitants of Canaan before them; and on their part, that they should have no confederacy and communion with these nations, and shun their idolatry, and everything that might lead unto it, Exo 34:10 and he repeated several laws before given, and urged the observance of them, which Moses was to acquaint the people with, Exo 34:18 and after a stay of forty days and forty nights on the mount, he came down with the two tables of the law; and the skin of his face shone so bright, that the people of Israel were afraid to come nigh him, and therefore he put a vail over his face while he conversed with them, Exo 34:28.

But ye shall destroy their altars,.... On which they had sacrificed to their idols; since, if they were allowed to continue, they might be temptations to offer sacrifice thereon, contrary to the command of God: break their images: of gold or silver, wood or stone, which they made for themselves, and worshipped as deities; seeing if these continued, the sight of them might lead to the worship of them, and so bring under the divine displeasure, as a breach of the command of God given them: and cut down their groves; which were clusters of trees, where they had their temples and their idols, and did service to them, and where, besides idolatry, many impurities were committed. Such places were originally used by good men for devotion, being shady and solitary, but when abused to superstitious and idolatrous uses, were forbidden. It is said (n), the word for "grove" is general, and includes every tree they serve, or plant, for an idol. (n) R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 72. 1.

Moses is commanded to hew two tables similar to the first, and bring them up to the mount, to get the covenant renewed, Exo 34:1-3. He prepares the tables and goes up to meet the Lord, Exo 34:4. The Lord descends, and proclaims his name Jehovah, Exo 34:5. What this name signifies, Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7. Moses worships and intercedes, Exo 34:8, Exo 34:9. The Lord promises to renew the covenant, work miracles among the people, and drive out the Canaanites, etc., Exo 34:10, Exo 34:11. No covenant to be made with the idolatrous nations, but their altars and images to be destroyed, Exo 34:12-15. No matrimonial alliances to be contracted with them, Exo 34:16. The Israelites must have no molten gods, Exo 34:17. The commandment of the feast of unleavened bread, and of the sanctification of the first-born, renewed, Exo 34:18-29; as also that of the Sabbath, and the three great annual feasts, Exo 34:21-23. The promise that the surrounding nations shall not invade their territories, while all the males were at Jerusalem celebrating the annual feasts, Exo 34:24. Directions concerning the passover, Exo 34:25; and the first-fruits, Exo 34:26. Moses is commanded to write all these words, as containing the covenant which God had now renewed with the Israelites, Exo 34:27. Moses, being forty days with God without eating or drinking, writes the words of the covenant; and the Lord writes the ten commandments upon the tables of stone, Exo 34:28. Moses descends with the tables; his face shines, Exo 34:29. Aaron and the people are afraid to approach him, because of his glorious appearance, Exo 34:30. Moses delivers to them the covenant and commandments of the Lord; and puts a veil over his face while he is speaking, Exo 34:31-33, but takes it off when he goes to minister before the Lord, Exo 34:34, Exo 34:35.

Ye shall destroy their images - See the subjects of this and all the following verses, to Exo 34:28, treated at large in the notes on Exodus 23 (note).

THE TABLES ARE RENEWED. (Exo. 34:1-35) the like unto the first--God having been reconciled to repentant Israel, through the earnest intercession, the successful mediation of Moses, means were to be taken for the restoration of the broken covenant. Intimation was given, however, in a most intelligible and expressive manner, that the favor was to be restored with some memento of the rupture; for at the former time God Himself had provided the materials, as well as written upon them. Now, Moses was to prepare the stone tables, and God was only to retrace the characters originally inscribed for the use and guidance of the people.