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Text -- Exodus 34:20-35 (NET)

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34:20 Now the firstling of a donkey you may redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. “No one will appear before me empty-handed. 34:21 “On six days you may labor, but on the seventh day you must rest; even at the time of plowing and of harvest you are to rest. 34:22 “You must observe the Feast of Weeks– the firstfruits of the harvest of wheat– and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year. 34:23 At three times in the year all your men must appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. 34:24 For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one will covet your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year. 34:25 “You must not offer the blood of my sacrifice with yeast; the sacrifice from the feast of Passover must not remain until the following morning. 34:26 “The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the Lord your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.” 34:27 The Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 34:28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
The Radiant Face of Moses
34:29 Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand– when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 34:30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to approach him. 34:31 But Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke to them. 34:32 After this all the Israelites approached, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 34:33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he would put a veil on his face. 34:34 But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out. Then he would come out and tell the Israelites what he had been commanded. 34:35 When the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with the Lord.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Aaron a son of Amram; brother of Moses,son of Amram (Kohath Levi); patriarch of Israel's priests,the clan or priestly line founded by Aaron
 · Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel
 · Moses a son of Amram; the Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them The Law of Moses,a Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them the law
 · Sinai a mountain located either between the gulfs of Suez and Akaba or in Arabia, east of Akaba,a mountain; the place where the law was given to Moses


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Writing | Weaving, weavers | Veil, vail | Tabernacle | TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE | Plough | Pentateuch | PASSOVER | NUMBER | LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT | Kid | Israel | First-born, Redemption of | Festivals, Religious | Fast | EXODUS, THE BOOK OF, 2 | EXODUS, THE BOOK OF, 1 | Commandments, the Ten | COVENANT, THE NEW | ARK OF THE COVENANT | more
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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Exo 34:21 - -- Here is a repetition of several appointments made before, especially relating to their solemn feasts: when they had made the calf they proclaimed a fe...

Here is a repetition of several appointments made before, especially relating to their solemn feasts: when they had made the calf they proclaimed a feast in honour of it; now, that they might never do so again, they are here charged with the observance of the feasts which God had instituted. Thou shalt rest, even in earing - time and in harvest - The most busy times of the year.

Wesley: Exo 34:21 - -- work will prosper the better for the religious observation of the sabbath - day in harvest - time. Hereby we must shew that we prefer our communion wi...

work will prosper the better for the religious observation of the sabbath - day in harvest - time. Hereby we must shew that we prefer our communion with God, before either the business or the joy of harvest.

Wesley: Exo 34:23 - -- children appear - But it might be suggested, when all the males slain every part were gone up to worship in the place that God should chuse, the count...

children appear - But it might be suggested, when all the males slain every part were gone up to worship in the place that God should chuse, the country would he left exposed to the insults of their neighbours; and what would become of the poor women and children? Trust God with them.

Wesley: Exo 34:24 - -- Not only they shall not invade it, but they shall not so much as think of invading it. What a standing Miracle was this, for so many Generations?

Not only they shall not invade it, but they shall not so much as think of invading it. What a standing Miracle was this, for so many Generations?

Wesley: Exo 34:28 - -- God.

God.

Wesley: Exo 34:29 - -- This time of his being in the mount he heard only the same he had heard before. But he saw more of the glory of God, which having with open face behel...

This time of his being in the mount he heard only the same he had heard before. But he saw more of the glory of God, which having with open face beheld, he was in some measure changed into the same image. This was a great honour done to Moses, that the people might never again question his mission, or think or speak slightly of him. He carried his credentials in his very countenance, some think as long as he lived, he retained some remainders of this glory, which perhaps contributed to the vigour of his old age; that eye could not wax dim which had seen God, nor that face wrinkle which had shone with his glory.

Wesley: Exo 34:30 - -- It not only dazzled their eyes, but struck such an awe upon them as obliged them to retire. Probably they doubted whether it was a token of God's favo...

It not only dazzled their eyes, but struck such an awe upon them as obliged them to retire. Probably they doubted whether it was a token of God's favour, or of his displeasure.

Wesley: Exo 34:33 - -- This veil signified the darkness of that dispensation; the ceremonial institutions had in them much of Christ and the gospel, but a veil was drawn ove...

This veil signified the darkness of that dispensation; the ceremonial institutions had in them much of Christ and the gospel, but a veil was drawn over it, so that the children of Israel could not distinctly and steadfastly see those good things to come which the law had a shadow of. It was beauty veiled, gold in the mine, a pearl in the shell; but thanks be to God, by the gospel, the veil is taken away from off the old testament; yet still it remains upon the hearts of those who shut their eyes against the light.

Wesley: Exo 34:34 - -- Every veil must be thrown aside when we go to present ourselves unto the Lord. This signified also, as it is explained, 2Co 3:16, that when a soul tur...

Every veil must be thrown aside when we go to present ourselves unto the Lord. This signified also, as it is explained, 2Co 3:16, that when a soul turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away, that with open face it may behold his glory.

JFB: Exo 34:27-28 - -- That is, the ceremonial and judicial injunctions comprehended above (Exo. 34:11-26); while the rewriting of the ten commandments on the newly prepared...

That is, the ceremonial and judicial injunctions comprehended above (Exo. 34:11-26); while the rewriting of the ten commandments on the newly prepared slabs was done by God Himself (compare Deu 10:1-4).

JFB: Exo 34:28 - -- As long as formerly [Exo 24:18], being sustained for the execution of his special duties by the miraculous power of God. A special cause is assigned f...

As long as formerly [Exo 24:18], being sustained for the execution of his special duties by the miraculous power of God. A special cause is assigned for his protracted fast on this second occasion (Deu 9:18).

JFB: Exo 34:29 - -- It was an intimation of the exalted presence into which he had been admitted and of the glory he had witnessed (2Co 3:18); and in that view, it was a ...

It was an intimation of the exalted presence into which he had been admitted and of the glory he had witnessed (2Co 3:18); and in that view, it was a badge of his high office as the ambassador of God. No testimonial needed to be produced. He bore his credentials on his very face; and whether this extraordinary effulgence was a permanent or merely temporary distinction, it cannot be doubted that this reflected glory was given him as an honor before all the people.

JFB: Exo 34:30 - -- Their fear arose from a sense of guilt--the beaming radiance of his countenance made him appear to their awe-struck consciences a flaming minister of ...

Their fear arose from a sense of guilt--the beaming radiance of his countenance made him appear to their awe-struck consciences a flaming minister of heaven.

JFB: Exo 34:33 - -- That veil was with the greatest propriety removed when speaking with the Lord, for every one appears unveiled to the eye of Omniscience; but it was re...

That veil was with the greatest propriety removed when speaking with the Lord, for every one appears unveiled to the eye of Omniscience; but it was replaced on returning to the people--and this was emblematic of the dark and shadowy character of that dispensation (2Co 3:13-14).

Clarke: Exo 34:21 - -- In earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest - This commandment is worthy of especial note; many break the Sabbath on the pretense of absolute nece...

In earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest - This commandment is worthy of especial note; many break the Sabbath on the pretense of absolute necessity, because, if in harvest time the weather happens to be what is called bad, and the Sabbath day be fair and fine, they judge it perfectly lawful to employ that day in endeavoring to save the fruits of the field, and think that the goodness of the day beyond the preceding, is an indication from Providence that it should be thus employed. But is not the above command pointed directly against this? I have known this law often broken on this pretense, and have never been able to discover a single instance where the persons who acted thus succeeded one whit better than their more conscientious neighbors, who availed themselves of no such favorable circumstances, being determined to keep God’ s law, even to the prejudice of their secular interests; but no man ever yet ultimately suffered loss by a conscientious attachment to his duty to God. He who is willing and obedient, shall eat the good of the land; but God will ever distinguish those in his providence who respect his commandments.

Clarke: Exo 34:24 - -- Neither shall any man desire thy land - What a manifest proof was this of the power and particular providence of God! How easy would it have been fo...

Neither shall any man desire thy land - What a manifest proof was this of the power and particular providence of God! How easy would it have been for the surrounding nations to have taken possession of the whole Israelitish land, with all their fenced cities, when there were none left to protect them but women and children! Was not this a standing proof of the Divine origin of their religion, and a barrier which no deistical mind could possibly surmount! Thrice every year did God work an especial miracle for the protection of his people; controlling even the very desires of their enemies, that they might not so much as meditate evil against them. They who have God for their protector have a sure refuge; and how true is the proverb, The path of duty is the way of safety! While these people went up to Jerusalem to keep the Lord’ s ordinances, he kept their families in peace, and their land in safety.

Clarke: Exo 34:25 - -- The blood of my sacrifice - That is, the paschal lamb. See Clarke on Exo 23:18 (note).

The blood of my sacrifice - That is, the paschal lamb. See Clarke on Exo 23:18 (note).

Clarke: Exo 34:26 - -- Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’ s milk - See this amply considered Exo 23:19 (note).

Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’ s milk - See this amply considered Exo 23:19 (note).

Clarke: Exo 34:27 - -- Write thou these words - Either a transcript of the whole law now delivered, or the words included from Exo 34:11 to Exo 34:26. God certainly wrote ...

Write thou these words - Either a transcript of the whole law now delivered, or the words included from Exo 34:11 to Exo 34:26. God certainly wrote the ten words on both sets of tables. Moses either wrote a transcript of these and the accompanying precepts for the use of the people, or he wrote the precepts themselves in addition to the ten commandments which were written by the finger of God. See Clarke on Exo 34:1 (note). Allowing this mode of interpretation, the accompanying precepts were, probably, what was written on the back side of the tables by Moses; the ten commandments, what were written on the front by the finger of Jehovah: for we must pay but little attention to the supposition of the rabbins, that the letters on each table were cut through the stone, so as to be legible on each side. See Clarke on Exo 32:15 (note).

Clarke: Exo 34:28 - -- Forty days and forty nights - See Clarke’ s note on Exo 24:18.

Forty days and forty nights - See Clarke’ s note on Exo 24:18.

Clarke: Exo 34:29 - -- The skin of his face shone - קרן karan , was horned: having been long in familiar intercourse with his Maker, his flesh, as well as his soul, wa...

The skin of his face shone - קרן karan , was horned: having been long in familiar intercourse with his Maker, his flesh, as well as his soul, was penetrated with the effulgence of the Divine glory, and his looks expressed the light and life which dwelt within. Probably Moses appeared now as he did when, in our Lord’ s transfiguration, he was seen with Elijah on the mount, Matthew 17. As the original word קרן karan signifies to shine out, to dart forth, as horns on the head of an animal, or rays of light reflected from a polished surface, we may suppose that the heavenly glory which filled the soul of this holy man darted out from his face in coruscations, in that manner in which light is generally represented. The Vulgate renders the passage, et ignorabat quod cornuta esset facies sua , "and he did not know that his face was horned;"which version, misunderstood, has induced painters in general to represent Moses with two very large horns, one proceeding from each temple. But we might naturally ask, while they were indulging themselves in such fancies, why only two horns? for it is very likely that there were hundreds of these radiations, proceeding at once from the face of Moses. It was no doubt from this very circumstance that almost all the nations of the world who have heard of this transaction, have agreed in representing those men to whom they attributed extraordinary sanctity, and whom they supposed to have had familiar intercourse with the Deity, with a lucid nimbus or glory round their heads. This has prevailed both in the east and in the west; not only the Greek and Roman saints, or eminent persons, are thus represented, but those also among the Mohammedans, Hindoos, and Chinese.

Clarke: Exo 34:30 - -- They were afraid to come nigh him - A sight of his face alarmed them; their consciences were still guilty from their late transgression, and they ha...

They were afraid to come nigh him - A sight of his face alarmed them; their consciences were still guilty from their late transgression, and they had not yet received the atonement. The very appearance of superior sanctity often awes the guilty into respect.

Clarke: Exo 34:33 - -- And till Moses had done speaking - The meaning of the verse appears to be this: As often as Moses spoke in public to the people, he put the veil on ...

And till Moses had done speaking - The meaning of the verse appears to be this: As often as Moses spoke in public to the people, he put the veil on his face, because they could not bear to look on the brightness of his countenance; but when he entered into the tabernacle to converse with the Lord, he removed this veil, Exo 34:34. St. Paul, 2Co 3:7, etc., makes a very important use of the transactions recorded in this place. He represents the brightness of the face of Moses as emblematical of the glory or excellence of that dispensation; but he shows that however glorious or excellent that was, it had no glory when compared with the superior excellence of the Gospel. As Moses was glorious in the eyes of the Israelites, but that glory was absorbed and lost in the splendor of God when he entered into the tabernacle, or went to meet the Lord upon the mount; so the brightness and excellence of the Mosaic dispensation are eclipsed and absorbed in the transcendent brightness or excellence of the Gospel of Christ. One was the shadow, the other is the substance. One showed Sin in its exceeding sinfulness, together with the justice and immaculate purity of God; but, in and of itself, made no provision for pardon or sanctification. The other exhibits Jesus, the Lamb of God, typified by all the sacrifices under the law, putting away sin by the sacrifice of himself, reconciling God to man and man to God, diffusing his Spirit through the souls of believers, and cleansing the very thoughts of their hearts by his inspiration, and causing them to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The one seems to shut heaven against mankind, because by the law was the knowledge, not the cure, of Sin; the other opens the kingdom of heaven to all believers. The former was a ministration of death, the latter a dispensation of life. The former ministered terror, so that even the high priest was afraid to approach, the people withdrew and stood afar off, and even Moses, the mediator of it, exceedingly feared and trembled; by the latter we have boldness to enter into the holiest through the blood of Jesus, who is the end of the law for righteousness - justification, to every one that believeth. The former gives a partial view of the Divine nature; the latter shows God as he is

"Full orbed, in his whole round of rays complete.

The apostle farther considers the veil on the face of Moses, as being emblematical of the metaphorical nature of the different rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic dispensation, each covering some spiritual meaning or a spiritual subject; and that the Jews did not lift the veil to penetrate the spiritual sense, and did not look to the end of the commandment, which was to be abolished, but rested in the letter or literal meaning, which conferred neither light nor life

He considers the veil also as being emblematical of that state of intellectual darkness into which the Jewish people, by their rejection of the Gospel, were plunged, and from which they have never yet been recovered. When a Jew, even at the present day, reads the law in the synagogue, he puts over his head an oblong woolen veil, with four tassels at the four corners, which is called the taled or thaled. This is a very remarkable circumstance, as it appears to be an emblem of the intellectual veil referred to by the apostle, which is still upon their hearts when Moses is read, and which prevents them from looking to the end of that which God designed should be abrogated, and which has been abolished by the introduction of the Gospel. The veil is upon their hearts, and prevents the light of the glory of God from shining into them; but we all, says the apostle, speaking of believers in Christ, with open face, without any veil, beholding as in a glass the glory of God, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord; 2Co 3:18. Reader, dost thou know this excellence of the religion of Christ? Once thou wert darkness; art thou now light in the Lord? Art thou still under the letter that killeth, or under the Spirit that giveth life? Art thou a slave to sin or a servant of Christ? Is the veil on thy heart, or hast thou found redemption in his blood, the remission of sins? Knowest thou not these things? Then may God pity, enlighten, and save thee!

Calvin: Exo 34:28 - -- 28.And he was there with the Lord forty days The number of forty days is repeated, in order that the second Tables might have no less credit than the...

28.And he was there with the Lord forty days The number of forty days is repeated, in order that the second Tables might have no less credit than the first; for we have stated that Moses was withdrawn from the common life of men, that he might bring the Law, as it were, from heaven. If he had only been kept a few days in the mount, his authority would not have been ratified by so conspicuous a miracle; but the forty days obtained full credit for his mission, so that the people might know that he was sent by God; inasmuch as the endurance of a fast for so long a period exceeded the capacity of human nature. Wherefore, in order that the majesty of the Law might be indubitable, its minister was invested with angelic glory; and hence he expressly records that “he did neither eat bread, nor drink watch†since it was requisite that he should be distinguished from other mortals, in order that his official character might be unquestionable. Now, it must be borne in mind, that this was not a mere fast of temperance or sobriety, but of special privilege, whereby exemption from the infirmity of the flesh was vouchsafed to Moses for a time, in order that his condition might be different from the rest of the human race. For neither did he feel any hunger, nor did he struggle with any longing for food, nor desire meat and drink any more than one of the angels. Therefore this instance of abstinence was never alleged as an example by the Prophets, nor did any one attempt to imitate what they all knew to be by no means accorded to them. I except Elijah, who, being sent to revive the Law, when it was almost lost, like a second Moses, abstained also from eating and drinking for forty days. The reason for the fast of Christ was similar, (Mat 4:2;) for, in order to acquire full credit for tits Gospel, He desired to make it manifest that He was by no means inferior to Moses in this particular. Wherefore, 388 the less excusable is that error, which sprang from gross ignorance, when all, without exception, endeavored to rival the Son of God in their annual fast, as if a new promulgation of the Gospel was entrusted to them. For neither did Christ fast forty day’s more than once in His life; nor during the whole of that time, as it is clearly specified, did he experience hunger; and His heavenly Father separated Him from communion with men, when He was preparing Himself to undertake the office of teacher.

Calvin: Exo 34:29 - -- 29.And it came to pass when Moses came down Another remarkable honor given to the Law is here narrated, viz., that the brightness of the heavenly glo...

29.And it came to pass when Moses came down Another remarkable honor given to the Law is here narrated, viz., that the brightness of the heavenly glory appeared in the face of Moses; for it is said that his face gave forth rays, or was irradiated. The word is derived from קרן keren, a horn; and therefore it is probable that rays shone forth from his face, which rendered it luminous; and this effulgence God shed upon him, whilst He was speaking to him in the mount. It is not certain what was the reason why Moses himself was ignorant that he was thus illumined by God, except that it seems probable that it was concealed from him for a short time, in order that he might approach the people with more freedom, and thus that the miracle might be more evident from close inspection. When it is said afterwards, that Aaron and the children of Israel were so alarmed at the brightness, that “they were afraid to come nigh him,†I do not understand it, as if they fled from him immediately; for, since they were recalled by his voice, undoubtedly they had not seen the rays from a distance, but when they were in the act of receiving him, and he, on his part, delivering to them the commands of God. Therefore, what follows soon afterwards, that, when he had done speaking, he covered his face with a vail, 389 I refer to his first address, which He was obliged to break off on account of the departure or flight of the people, so that the meaning is, when He knew the cause of their alarm, He left off speaking, and covered his face with a vail; for he could not have known the reason of their flying except by inquiry. Some, in order to avoid the difficulty, separate the second clause from the first, and transpose their order; but this exposition appears to me to be forced. It seems, however, in my opinion, to be perfectly consistent that Moses, after he saw them departing in consternation, ceased from speaking, because they did not listen to him, and, when he discovered the reason, put on the vail. Hence arises a question, viz., How Moses could have borne the brightness of God’s glory, whilst the people could not bear the rays which shone from his face? But this is easily answered: that they were branded with this mark of disgrace, in order that they might confess how far by their ingratitude they had departed from God, since they were terrified at the sight of this servant. They were, therefore, humbled by this difference between them, that, whilst Moses securely advanced to them from his conference with God, although he bore upon him the indications of God’s terrible power, they, in fear and astonishment, recoiled from the sight of a mortal man.

After Paul has shewn the genuine object of this brightness, viz., that the Law should be glorious, he proceeds further, and shews that it was a presage of the future blindness which awaited the Jews. (2Co 3:13.) He begins, therefore, by saying, that although the Law was only a dead letter, and the ministration of death, yet it was graced with its own peculiar glory; and then adds what is accidental, that there was a vail before the face of Moses, because it would be the case that the Jews would not be able to see what is the main thing in the Law, nor to pay attention to its true end; and so it actually is, that since the coming of Christ, their senses have been blinded, and the vail is upon them, until Moses shall be 390 turned by them to Christ, who is the soul of the Law. But, since now in the Gospel God presents Himself with open face, we must take care that the prince of this world does not darken our minds, but rather that we may be transformed from glory to glory.

Defender: Exo 34:27 - -- Note God's emphasis on His words. The principle of verbal inspiration is evident here. Even though Moses wrote the words, it was God who gave them."

Note God's emphasis on His words. The principle of verbal inspiration is evident here. Even though Moses wrote the words, it was God who gave them."

TSK: Exo 34:20 - -- firstling : Exo 13:10; Num 18:15 lamb : or, kid All the : Exo 13:15; Num 3:45-51 none : Exo 23:15; Deu 16:16; 1Sa 9:7, 1Sa 9:8; 2Sa 24:24

firstling : Exo 13:10; Num 18:15

lamb : or, kid

All the : Exo 13:15; Num 3:45-51

none : Exo 23:15; Deu 16:16; 1Sa 9:7, 1Sa 9:8; 2Sa 24:24

TSK: Exo 34:21 - -- Six : Exo 20:9-11, Exo 23:12, Exo 35:2; Deu 5:12-15; Luk 13:14, Luk 23:56 earing : Gen 45:6; Deu 21:4; 1Sa 8:12; Isa 30:24

TSK: Exo 34:22 - -- feast of weeks : Exo 23:16; Num. 28:16-31, 29:12-39; Deu 16:10-15; Joh 7:2; Act 2:1 year’ s end : Heb. revolution of the year

feast of weeks : Exo 23:16; Num. 28:16-31, 29:12-39; Deu 16:10-15; Joh 7:2; Act 2:1

year’ s end : Heb. revolution of the year

TSK: Exo 34:23 - -- Thrice : Exo 23:14, Exo 23:17; Deu 16:16; Psa 84:7 the God : Gen 32:28, Gen 33:20

TSK: Exo 34:24 - -- I will : Exo 34:11, Exo 23:27-30, Exo 33:2; Lev 18:24; Deu 7:1; Psa 78:55, Psa 80:8 enlarge : Exo 23:31; Deu 12:20, Deu 19:8; 1Ch 4:10 desire : Gen 35...

TSK: Exo 34:25 - -- leaven : Exo 12:20, Exo 23:18; Deu 16:3; 1Co 5:7, 1Co 5:8 be left : Exo 12:10, Exo 23:18, Exo 29:34; Lev 7:15; Num 9:12

TSK: Exo 34:26 - -- first : Exo 23:19; Deu 26:2, Deu 26:10; Pro 3:9, Pro 3:10; Mat 6:33; 1Co 15:20; Jam 1:18 seethe : Exo 23:19; Deu 14:21

TSK: Exo 34:27 - -- Write : Exo 17:14, Exo 24:4, Exo 24:7; Deu 31:9 I have : Exo 34:10; Deu 4:13, Deu 31:9

TSK: Exo 34:28 - -- forty days : Exo 24:18; Deu 9:9, Deu 9:18, Deu 9:25 he wrote : Exo 34:1, Exo 31:18, Exo 32:16; Deu 4:13, Deu 10:2-4; 2Co 3:7 commandments : Heb. words

forty days : Exo 24:18; Deu 9:9, Deu 9:18, Deu 9:25

he wrote : Exo 34:1, Exo 31:18, Exo 32:16; Deu 4:13, Deu 10:2-4; 2Co 3:7

commandments : Heb. words

TSK: Exo 34:29 - -- am 2513, bc 1491, An, Ex, Is, 1, Elul Two tables : Exo 32:15 wist : Exo 16:15; Jos 2:4, Jos 8:14; Jdg 16:20; Mar 9:6, Mar 14:40; Luk 2:49; Joh 5:13; A...

am 2513, bc 1491, An, Ex, Is, 1, Elul

Two tables : Exo 32:15

wist : Exo 16:15; Jos 2:4, Jos 8:14; Jdg 16:20; Mar 9:6, Mar 14:40; Luk 2:49; Joh 5:13; Act 12:9, Act 23:5

the skin : Mat 17:2; Luk 9:29; Act 6:15; 2Co 3:7-9, 2Co 3:13; Rev 1:16, Rev 10:1

face shone : As the original word karan , signifies to shine out, or dart forth, as horns on the head of an animal, or rays of light reflected from a polished surface, we may suppose that the heavenly glory which filled the soul of this holy man, darted out from his face in coruscations, in the manner in which light is generally represented. The Vulgate renders it, et ignorabat quod cornuta esset facies sua , ""and he did not know that his face was horned;""which version, misunderstood, has induced painters to represent Moses with two very large horns, one proceeding from each temple!

TSK: Exo 34:30 - -- afraid : Num 12:8; Mar 9:3, Mar 9:15; Luk 5:8

TSK: Exo 34:31 - -- called : Exo 3:15, Exo 24:1-3 and Moses talked : Gen 45:3, Gen 45:15

called : Exo 3:15, Exo 24:1-3

and Moses talked : Gen 45:3, Gen 45:15

TSK: Exo 34:32 - -- he gave : Exo 21:1; Num 15:40; 1Ki 22:14; Mat 28:20; 1Co 11:23, 1Co 15:3

TSK: Exo 34:33 - -- a veil : Rom 10:4; 2Co 3:13-18, 2Co 4:4-6

TSK: Exo 34:34 - -- he took : 2Co 3:16; Heb 4:16, Heb 10:19-22

TSK: Exo 34:35 - -- Exo 34:29, Exo 34:30; Ecc 8:1; Dan 12:3; Mat 5:16, Mat 13:43; Joh 5:35; Phi 2:15

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Exo 34:12-27 - -- The precepts contained in these verses are, for the most part, identical in substance with some of those which follow the Ten Commandments and are r...

The precepts contained in these verses are, for the most part, identical in substance with some of those which follow the Ten Commandments and are recorded in "the Book of the covenant"(Exo. 20\endash 23; see Exo 24:7).

Exo 34:13

Cut down their groves - This is the first reference to what is commonly known as grove-worship. The original word for "grove"in this connection ×שׁרה 'ăsheÌ‚raÌ„h is different from that so rendered in Gen 21:33. Our translators supposed that what the law commands is the destruction of groves dedicated to the worship of false deities Jdg 6:25; 2Ki 18:4; but inasmuch as the worship of asherah is found associated with that of Astarte, or Ashtoreth Jdg 2:13; Jdg 10:6; 1Sa 7:4, it seems probable that while Astarte was the personal name of the goddess, the asherah was a symbol of her, probably in some one of her characters, made in wood in some conventional form.

Exo 34:15-16

An expansion of Exo 34:12. The unfaithfulness of the nation to its covenant with Yahweh is here for the first time spoken of as a breach of the marriage bond. The metaphor is, in any case, a natural one, but it seems to gain point, if we suppose it to convey an allusion to the abominations connected with pagan worship, such as are spoken of in Num 25:1-3.

Exo 34:21

See Exo 20:9; Exo 23:12. There is here added to the commandment a particular caution respecting those times of year when the land calls for most labor. The old verb "to ear"(i. e. to plow) is genuine English.

Exo 34:24

Neither shall any man desire etc. - Intended to encourage such as might fear the consequences of obeying the divine law in attending to their religious duties. Compare Pro 16:7.

Barnes: Exo 34:28 - -- He wrote - i. e. Yahweh wrote Exo 34:1.

He wrote - i. e. Yahweh wrote Exo 34:1.

Barnes: Exo 34:29 - -- The two tables of testimony - Compare Exo 31:18. The skin of his face shone - Compare Mat 17:2. The brightness of the Eternal Glory, thou...

The two tables of testimony - Compare Exo 31:18.

The skin of his face shone - Compare Mat 17:2. The brightness of the Eternal Glory, though Moses had witnessed it only in a modified manner Exo 33:22-23, was so reflected in his face, that Aaron and the people were stricken with awe, and feared to approach him until he gave them words of encouragement.

The word translated "shine"is closely connected with a word translated "horn"; and hence, the Latin version and others have rendered the verb "to be horned."From this rendering of the word has arisen the popular representation of Moses with horns on his forehead; e. g. in Michaelangelo’ s statue at Rome.

Barnes: Exo 34:33-35 - -- Paul refers to this passage as showing forth the glory of the law, though it was but a "ministration of condemnation,"and was to be done away, in or...

Paul refers to this passage as showing forth the glory of the law, though it was but a "ministration of condemnation,"and was to be done away, in order to enhance the glory of the gospel, "the ministration of the spirit,"which is concealed by no veil from the eyes of believers, and is to last forever 2Co 3:7-15.

Exo 34:33

When rather than until should be supplied. Moses did not wear the veil when he was speaking to the people, but when he was silent. See Exo 34:35.

Exo 34:34

Moses went in - i. e. to the tent of meeting.

Poole: Exo 34:20 - -- Either without a gift to me, so it is a precept; or without benefit to himself, so it is a promise. See Exo 23:15 .

Either without a gift to me, so it is a precept; or without benefit to himself, so it is a promise. See Exo 23:15 .

Poole: Exo 34:21 - -- Which times are expressed, because the great profit and seeming necessity of working at that time was likely to be a powerful temptation to make men...

Which times are expressed, because the great profit and seeming necessity of working at that time was likely to be a powerful temptation to make men break the sabbath.

Poole: Exo 34:22 - -- The feast of weeks , i.e. which is numbered by weeks being just seven weeks after the passover, whence it is called pentecost , i.e. the fiftieth day...

The feast of weeks , i.e. which is numbered by weeks being just seven weeks after the passover, whence it is called pentecost , i.e. the fiftieth day, to wit, after the passover. See Lev 23:15 25:8 .

The first-fruits of wheat harvest ; so this is a designation of the time and business of the feast of weeks.

The feast of ingathering , to wit, of the fruits of the earth.

The year’ s end ; so it was in regard of the jubilee and civil contracts.

Poole: Exo 34:24 - -- I will cast out the nations ; so thou shalt have no intestine enemy to do time or thine mischief. This God promised to do, but upon condition of Israe...

I will cast out the nations ; so thou shalt have no intestine enemy to do time or thine mischief. This God promised to do, but upon condition of Israel’ s discharge of their duty in following God in this work of driving them out, which they neglecting, it was not fully done.

Neither shall any man desire thy land ; I will not only tie their hands, that they shall make no invasion upon you, but I will take off their thoughts and affections from such an enterprise, which it was very easy for God to effect many ways.

Poole: Exo 34:26 - -- First of the first-fruits ; thou shalt not delay to do this, but shalt bring the very first of them. Or, the first-fruits , even the first-fruits of...

First of the first-fruits ; thou shalt not delay to do this, but shalt bring the very first of them. Or, the first-fruits , even the first-fruits of thy land ; which limitation seems here conveniently added, because they were not bound to bring thither all their first-fruits, to wit, those of their own bodies, their children.

Poole: Exo 34:27 - -- Object . God saith, I will write , Exo 34:1 . Answ . 1. Moses was to write the ritual precepts mentioned here above, God wrote the moral law. 2. M...

Object .

God saith, I will write , Exo 34:1 .

Answ . 1. Moses was to write the ritual precepts mentioned here above, God wrote the moral law.

2. Moses wrote what he wrote in a book; see Exo 24:7 ; but what was written upon the tables of stone was written by God himself, not by Moses, who had no graving instruments with him in the mount, and could not without them write upon the stone.

Poole: Exo 34:28 - -- He was there forty days and forty nights ; as he had been before, being now to renew the broken covenant. This forty days’ fast of his is mentio...

He was there forty days and forty nights ; as he had been before, being now to renew the broken covenant. This forty days’ fast of his is mentioned four times, Exo 24:18 , and here, and Deu 9:18 10:10 , but it is evident it was performed but twice, as the occasion of it happened only twice.

He wrote , not Moses, but the Lord, as appears from Exo 24:1 , and from De 10 , the relative pronoun being here referred to the remoter antecedent, of which there are many instances, as Gen 10:12 1Sa 21:14 27:8 Psa 99:6 .

Poole: Exo 34:29 - -- Quest . Why now, and not when he came down from God before? Answ . 1. Because now he obtained what he did not before, to wit, a glimpse of the Divin...

Quest . Why now, and not when he came down from God before?

Answ .

1. Because now he obtained what he did not before, to wit, a glimpse of the Divine glory, which, though but very transient, left its print upon his face.

2. Now it was more necessary than before, to procure the greater honour to Moses, and to the law, 2Co 3:7,8,11 , because of the late horrid Violation and contempt of them, which the Israelites had fallen into.

Poole: Exo 34:31 - -- Unto him , to the tabernacle, which was still at a distance from the camp, though afterwards, God being reconciled, it was set up in the camp, Exo 40:...

Unto him , to the tabernacle, which was still at a distance from the camp, though afterwards, God being reconciled, it was set up in the camp, Exo 40:34 .

Poole: Exo 34:33 - -- In condescension to their weakness

In condescension to their weakness

Haydock: Exo 34:21 - -- Reap; when the most urgent necessity might seem to authorize labour. (Haydock)

Reap; when the most urgent necessity might seem to authorize labour. (Haydock)

Haydock: Exo 34:22 - -- Harvest. Pentecost. --- Laid in, at the feast of tabernacles, in September. (Menochius) --- The Septuagint have, "the feast of gathering, in the...

Harvest. Pentecost. ---

Laid in, at the feast of tabernacles, in September. (Menochius) ---

The Septuagint have, "the feast of gathering, in the middle of the (sacred) year." The greatest solemnity of the Passover is mentioned, ver. 18. (Haydock)

Haydock: Exo 34:24 - -- In wait. Hebrew and Septuagint, "shall desire." (Calmet) --- God engages to protect their land. (Menochius)

In wait. Hebrew and Septuagint, "shall desire." (Calmet) ---

God engages to protect their land. (Menochius)

Haydock: Exo 34:25 - -- Sacrifice of the paschal lamb, to which the Chaldean properly restrains this verse. (Calmet)

Sacrifice of the paschal lamb, to which the Chaldean properly restrains this verse. (Calmet)

Haydock: Exo 34:26 - -- Dam. Chaldean, "thou shalt not eat flesh with milk." See chap. xxiii. 19.

Dam. Chaldean, "thou shalt not eat flesh with milk." See chap. xxiii. 19.

Haydock: Exo 34:28 - -- Wrote. God wrote on the tables, as he had promised, ver. 1. (Calmet) --- Moses recorded all in this book, as he was ordered, ver. 27. St. Cyprian...

Wrote. God wrote on the tables, as he had promised, ver. 1. (Calmet) ---

Moses recorded all in this book, as he was ordered, ver. 27. St. Cyprian (de Sp. S.) and St. Augustine (q. 186,) infer, however, from this text, that the second tables had not the same honour as the first. The contrary appears from Deuteronomy x. 4, He (God) wrote....as before. Estius, Calmet, and Menochius think the forty days here mentioned, were those which Moses spent with God to obtain the people's pardon, and the law, at the same time. See chap. xxxii. 35. He continued all that time without meat or sleep, by the power of God, who supports Enoch and Elias in the vigour of health without corporal sustenance. Salien., A. 2544, in which year of the world he fixes the death of Job, the great prophet of the Gentiles.

Haydock: Exo 34:29 - -- Horned. That is, shining, and sending forth rays of light like horns. (Challoner) --- Septuagint, "encircled with glory." St. Paul (2 Corinthians...

Horned. That is, shining, and sending forth rays of light like horns. (Challoner) ---

Septuagint, "encircled with glory." St. Paul (2 Corinthians iii. 7,) says, the Hebrews could not look steadfastly at the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his countenance. Hence, he was forced to have a veil, which, the apostle observes, was not taken off from the old law till Christ appeared. The Jews and heretics still read the law and the gospel with a veil over their eyes and heart, without understanding them, as they are hidden to those who perish, 2 Corinthians iv. 3. The Jews are much enraged at some Christians, who have represented Moses with horns, as if, they say, he were a devil, or his wife an adulteress. (Stacchus and Drusius.) ---

Hebrew, "his skin was radiant" all over his face. These rays commanded respect and awe from the people, who had before said contemptuously, Moses---the man, (chap. xxxii. 1,) as they shewed that God was with him. They had not appeared before, though he had often conversed with the Lord: but now, having seen the glorious vision, they adhered to him during the remainder of his life, particularly when he enforced the obligations of the law to the people. (Haydock) ---

The Arabs make their hair stand up like little horns, when they are about 40 years old. (Patric. ii. 4. Navig.) Homer mentions the like custom, and Diomed laughs at Paris calling him the pretty-horned. (Iliad xi.) Many of the ancient heroes and gods are represented with horns, particularly Bacchus, whose history reminds us of many particulars, which belong to Moses. He was born or educated in the confines of Egypt, was exposed on the waters, in a box; had two mothers, and very beautiful. While his army enjoyed the light, the Indians were in darkness. He was preceded by a pillar, had women in his train, dried up rivers with his thyrsus or wand, which had crawled, like a serpent, &c. (Huet. &c.) St. Epiphanius (her. 55,) says the Idumeans adored Moses. Their idol is called Choze by Josephus, (Antiquities xviii. 11,) which may be derived from Chus, the ancestor of Sephora, as Bacchus and Iacchus may denote "the son Bar, or the god Chus," Jah-Chus, who was adored in Arabia; so that Moses, Choze, and Bacchus, probably mean the same person. Chus peopled that part of Arabia where the Hebrews sojourned, Numbers xii. 1. (Calmet)

Haydock: Exo 34:33 - -- And having, &c. At first, he spoke uncovered. (Menochius) --- The Protestants insert the word till in Italics, to insinuate that Moses spoke wit...

And having, &c. At first, he spoke uncovered. (Menochius) ---

The Protestants insert the word till in Italics, to insinuate that Moses spoke with a veil on, as St. Paul mentions; (Haydock) and Calmet would translate, "for Moses had ceased to address the people, and had put a veil upon his face," as soon as he perceived that they could not bear the blaze of his countenance. This he did out of modesty, that they might not be afraid of coming to speak freely to him, (Jansenius) though it was also mysterious, as St. Paul remarks. For even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart, (2 Corinthians iii. 15,) as it is upon that of heretics, who cannot see the church. (St. Augustine in Psalm xxx.) (Worthington)

Gill: Exo 34:20 - -- Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem,.... This goes along with the former; see Gill on Exo 13:13, and none shall appear before me empty; at ...

Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem,.... This goes along with the former; see Gill on Exo 13:13,

and none shall appear before me empty; at the grand festivals, the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles; see Gill on Exo 13:15.

Gill: Exo 34:21 - -- Six days shalt thou work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest,.... This is the law of the seventh day sabbath, which is after repeated, to fix it i...

Six days shalt thou work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest,.... This is the law of the seventh day sabbath, which is after repeated, to fix it in the minds and memories of the people, see Exo 20:10 and here it is added, which has not been mentioned before:

in earing and in harvest thou shall rest; that is, in the time of ploughing, and in the time of reaping and gathering in the harvest, which are both very busy seasons; the rest of the sabbath was not to be violated; such sort of works, though they might require haste and expedition, yet the sabbath was not to be broken on account of them: this is the common sense of the law, as it is understood; but Maimonides o gives another sense from their doctors, who say, it is forbidden to plough in the sixth year what cannot be reaped but in the seventh; and so likewise that it is forbidden to reap on the seventh year, that of which profit may be had on the eighth year, and this is founded on what the Scripture says, Exo 34:21 "in earing", &c. and they say, that here ploughing and harvest are not to be understood of the seventh day, because this is included in the general rule, "thou shalt not do any work"--they say, of that which is ploughed, whose reaping or harvest is forbidden, is the ploughing at the evening of the seventh year, and at the going out of the seventh; and know this, that the evening of the seventh is the sixth year, and the going out of the seventh is the eighth year, and so Jarchi on the text observes, that some of their Rabbins say, this is to be understood of the ploughing of the seventh year, the seventh year entering, and the harvest of the seventh year, at the going out of it; so that as there is a seventh day of rest, there is a year in which ploughing and harvest are forbidden; but there are others, he says, who say the text speaks only of the sabbath.

Gill: Exo 34:22 - -- And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks,.... The feast of Pentecost, called the feast of weeks, because seven sabbaths or weeks, or fifty days, were...

And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks,.... The feast of Pentecost, called the feast of weeks, because seven sabbaths or weeks, or fifty days, were to be reckoned from the day in the passover feast, on which the sheaf of the wave offering was brought, Lev 23:15 and which was also called the feast

of the first fruits of wheat harvest, to distinguish it from the barley harvest, at the time of the passover, when a sheaf of barley was the wave offering to the Lord; but at this two loaves or cakes of fine wheaten flour were brought as the first fruits of the wheat harvest, see Lev 23:17.

and the feast of ingathering at the year's end; which was the feast of tabernacles, called the feast of ingathering, because at this time all the fruits of the earth, the corn, wine, and oil, and all others were gathered in; and this was at the close of the old year, and at the beginning of the new, according to the ancient account, which made Tisri or September the first month in the year; See Gill on Exo 23:16.

Gill: Exo 34:23 - -- Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord God,.... At the three above mentioned feasts; see Gill on Exo 23:17 here it is a...

Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord God,.... At the three above mentioned feasts; see Gill on Exo 23:17 here it is added:

the God of Israel; who had chosen them to be his special people, had redeemed them out of Egypt, and done great things for them since; had made a covenant with them, and had now renewed that covenant with them, and was their covenant God, and they his people, and so were under great obligations to present themselves unto him at the times appointed by him.

Gill: Exo 34:24 - -- For I will cast out the nations before thee,.... Who are particularly mentioned, Exo 34:11 and therefore they need not be in any fear of them, when th...

For I will cast out the nations before thee,.... Who are particularly mentioned, Exo 34:11 and therefore they need not be in any fear of them, when they should go up to the appointed place, and appear before the Lord; for to this they were not obliged, until they were come into the land of Canaan, and the inhabitants driven out before them:

and enlarge thy borders; so that as they should have no enemies within them, to hinder and molest them, or discourage and deter them from attendance on the Lord at such set times, so they would be set at a great distance from them, that they should have nothing to fear from them; and should it be objected that at such times, when only women and children were left at home, and their borders were defenceless, it would be a proper opportunity for their enemies to invade them, it is further promised:

neither, shall any man desire thy land; though it is a desirable land; and their neighbours, and especially the old inhabitants of it, envied the happiness of the Israelites, and could not but wish it was in their possession; yet God, who has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can direct their thoughts, and turn the inclinations of their minds, and influence their affections, and engage them with other objects, promises that they should not think of an invasion of them, or have their minds, and the desires and affections of their hearts, in the least turned that way at these seasons, whatever they might have at other times; even

when thou shall go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in a year; at the feasts before mentioned, which was a most wonderful display of the power and providence of God.

Gill: Exo 34:25 - -- Thou shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven,.... That is, not kill the passover, while there was any leaven in their houses; so the Tar...

Thou shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven,.... That is, not kill the passover, while there was any leaven in their houses; so the Targum of Jonathan; see Gill on Exo 23:18.

neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of passover be left unto the morning; neither any of the flesh, nor of the fat of the passover lamb: if any were left, it was to be burnt, see Exo 12:10.

Gill: Exo 34:26 - -- The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring,.... This, and another law in this verse, concerning not seething a kid in his mother's milk...

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring,.... This, and another law in this verse, concerning not seething a kid in his mother's milk, are repeated from Exo 23:19. See Gill on Exo 23:19.

Gill: Exo 34:27 - -- And the Lord said unto Moses,.... Being still with him on the mount: write thou these words; expressed in the preceding verses, from Exo 34:11, as ...

And the Lord said unto Moses,.... Being still with him on the mount:

write thou these words; expressed in the preceding verses, from Exo 34:11, as he before had written in a book all those laws, contained in Exo 21:1 called the book of the covenant, Exo 24:4 and which perhaps might be destroyed, as well as the two tables were broken; and therefore upon the renewal of the covenant here, there is a repetition made of the principal laws before given, which are ordered also to be written in a book, which may very well be called by the same name, since it follows:

for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel, with Moses, as their representative and mediator, and with them represented by him: what is above related carries in it the form of a covenant between them, God having declared on his part what he would do for them, and what laws and rules he required to be observed on their part; which Moses assented to in their name, and was ordered to write them down, that he might repeat them to them.

Gill: Exo 34:28 - -- And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights,.... These were other forty days and nights, besides those he had been with the Lord, when ...

And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights,.... These were other forty days and nights, besides those he had been with the Lord, when he came down and broke the two tables in his hand, on sight of the idolatry of the people; yea, not only the Jewish writers think that he was on the mount three times forty days and forty nights, but also several learned Christian writers, as Dr. Lightfoot p and others; and it seems plain that he went up to the mountain three times, Exo 24:15 and it is not improbable that he was each time so long there; about the first and third times there can be no doubt, see Exo 24:18 and the text before us; and at the second time, when he went up to make reconciliation for the people, Exo 32:30 he says, that he fell down before the Lord, as at the first forty days and forty nights, Deu 9:18 and from the seventh day of the month Sivan, the day after the giving of the law, to the tenth of Tisri, on which day he now descended, are just so many days:

he did neither eat bread nor drink water: and it is very likely slept not, he being supported without either of these by the power of God; and having such nearness of communion with God, and his mind taken up with what he heard and saw, he had no thoughts of, nor desires and cravings after such things, as well as he stood in no need of them; all which must be ascribed to the miraculous interposition of God in the support of him; see Gill on Exo 24:18.

and he wrote on the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments; not Moses, for these were tables of stone, which he could not write or engrave upon without proper instruments, which it does not appear he had with him on the mount; but it was God that wrote them, who, in Exo 34:1 says he would write them, and from Deu 10:2 we are assured he did.

Gill: Exo 34:29 - -- And it came to pass, when Moses came down Mount Sinai,.... Which was on the day of atonement, according to Jarchi, that is, the tenth of Tisri, or Sep...

And it came to pass, when Moses came down Mount Sinai,.... Which was on the day of atonement, according to Jarchi, that is, the tenth of Tisri, or September; and so the Jewish chronologers q fix his descent on this day:

with the two tables of testimony in Moses's hand; the two tables he carried up, on which God had wrote the law, called "the testimony", being a testification and declaration of his will to the children of Israel:

when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone, while he talked with him: the Targum of Jonathan is,"Moses knew not that the splendour of the form of his face was become illustrious, which he had from the brightness of the glory of the Shechinah of the Lord, at the time he talked with him.''And this the apostle calls "the glory of his countenance", 2Co 3:7 the glory of the Lord as it passed before him, when in the cleft of the rock, and that degree of it he was admitted to the sight of, while conversing with God, during his stay on the mount forty days and forty nights, left a shining glory on his countenance; which while he was with God he could not be at all sensible of, the glory of God so infinitely surpassing that; and when he came down the mount, as he could not see his own face without a glass, so though the rays of light and glory that darted from his face were so bright and strong, that they might have been observed by him, yet his mind was so intent on what he had seen and heard, that he took no notice of them. The Vulgate Latin version renders it very wrongly, "that his face was horned", which has given occasion to painters to represent him in a ridiculous manner, as having horns coming out of his forehead; though the word has the signification of an horn, and the meaning of that version, as of others, may only be, that the skin of his face "darted out rays" r like horns, such as the rays of the sun appear to be like to the eye, see Hab 3:4 hence Jupiter Ammon, the same with the sun, is described as having horns s; and so Bacchus, who is supposed to be the same with Moses, is represented as having a horned face t. Now this glory was left on the countenance of Moses, to show that he had had communion with God, and that the law he brought with him was from him; and to signify the glory of it, and to command awe and reverence, and make men afraid to break it.

Gill: Exo 34:30 - -- And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses,.... Who very probably met him at the bottom of the mount; these Israelites with Aaron were th...

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses,.... Who very probably met him at the bottom of the mount; these Israelites with Aaron were the princes, as Aben Ezra seems rightly to interpret it, and as appears from the following verse; for Moses could not well be seen by the whole body of the people at once, upon his descent from the mount:

behold, the skin of his face shone; darted out rays of light and glory all around it, much perhaps in the same manner as the glory about our Lord, and others, is painted by the Romanists:

and they were afraid to come nigh him; there was something so majestic and striking in it; and perhaps they could not tell whether it foreboded good or evil to them; and this may signify, that as by the light of the law sin is discovered, it fills with a sense of wrath and fear of damnation; and being the ministration of condemnation and death, it is terrifying and killing, though it has a glory in it.

Gill: Exo 34:31 - -- And Moses called unto them,.... Who, as it appears by what follows, on sight of him were so terrified, that they did not proceed on to meet him, but w...

And Moses called unto them,.... Who, as it appears by what follows, on sight of him were so terrified, that they did not proceed on to meet him, but went back, and therefore he called unto them to return and come forward:

and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him; knowing him by his voice, and encouraged by his call of them, who before might take him to be something more than human, some glorious form, one of the heavenly angels appearing in this manner:

and Moses talked with them; after he had put a vail on his face, of which there is an account in the following verses. He talked with them friendly, and told them all that had happened to him in the mount; what a glorious sight he had been indulged with; what a proclamation of the grace and goodness of God had been made to him; and what laws and ordinances God had enjoined him and them the observance of.

Gill: Exo 34:32 - -- And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh,.... That is, after Aaron and the rulers had had a conversation with Moses, then the whole body of ...

And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh,.... That is, after Aaron and the rulers had had a conversation with Moses, then the whole body of the people by turns were admitted to come before him, and hear the laws of God from him:

and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai; besides the two tables of stone, and the testimony written on them, he gave them all the other commands he was ordered to write in a book, and which are recorded in this chapter; he kept back nothing from them, but enjoined them to keep all the Lord had commanded.

Gill: Exo 34:33 - -- And till Moses had done speaking with them,.... Not when he had done, as the Septuagint version, for then there would have been no occasion for it; b...

And till Moses had done speaking with them,.... Not when he had done, as the Septuagint version, for then there would have been no occasion for it; but when he first began to speak to Aaron and the "rulers", and continued to speak to the congregation until he had finished what he had to say; even he did what follows, as soon as he perceived there was a glory on his face, which they could not bear to look at:

he put a vail on his face; something that covered it in a good measure, a mask, or linen cloth, or some such thing. The obscurity of the law may be signified by this vail, both of the moral and ceremonial law; the moral law, which though it makes known the mind and will of God, with respect to what is to be done, or not done, yet not with respect to the affair of life and salvation: it makes known the one God as the object of worship, but gives no account of a trinity of persons in the Godhead; no hint of God in Christ, nor revelation of the Son of God; no view of a Saviour, no notion of pardon; nor does it point out the righteousness of Christ unto us; nor do we from it hear anything of the Spirit of God, and his grace, nor of eternal life and glory: the ceremonial law, and its ordinances, did give some light into evangelical things, and did point out Christ, and the blessings of his grace, yet but darkly and obscurely; they were shadows of good things to come, and gave some dark and distant views of them, but were not so much as the image of the things, and did not bring them near, and set them in a clear light: likewise this vail may be an emblem of the darkness of the minds of men, with respect to the law, and the knowledge of divine things; especially of the Jews, who, as the apostle says, "could not steadfastly look at the end of that which is abolished": of the ceremonial law, which is disannulled, the end of which was Christ; he is the end for which it was made, the scope or mark at which it aimed, the term in which it issued, and in whom it had its complete fulfilment; but this they had not a perfect view of, and could not steadfastly behold: the moral law also is in some sense abolished by Christ, as the ministration of Moses, as a covenant of works, and as to the curse and condemnation of it to those that believe; and Christ he is the end of this, the fulfilling end of it, by conformity of nature, and obedience of life unto it, and by suffering the penalty of it; but such was the blindness of the Jews, that they were ignorant of the nature of this law, of the spirituality and perfection of it, of its use to convince men of sin, to condemn for it, but not to justify from it; were ignorant of the righteousness of God which the law required, and of Christ, and of the way of life and righteousness by him; and so of the Spirit of God, and his work, and of the mysteries of the Gospel, and of the books of the Old Testament; see 2Co 3:14.

Gill: Exo 34:34 - -- But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him,.... Went into the tabernacle to converse with him, to pray unto him, and inquire about any m...

But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him,.... Went into the tabernacle to converse with him, to pray unto him, and inquire about any matter of difficulty respecting the people of Israel he was concerned for, which he often did:

he took the vail off until he came out: and so when men are truly converted, and turn to the Lord, the vail of darkness and unbelief is removed, and the true light shines, in which they see things in another light than they did before; and when they come into his presence, they come with hearts opened and unveiled, all things being naked and open to him with whom they have to do; and particularly saints under the Gospel dispensation, with an open face, as in a glass, behold the glory of the Lord; and when they get to heaven, they will then see face to face, and know as they are known, 2Co 3:16,

and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded; this respects not the present time of his coming down from the mount, or out of the tabernacle with the law and commands now given, for these he had already declared; but after times, and all such times when he went in to the Lord to inquire of him his mind and will concerning certain things, in which the people wanted information, when, upon his return, he acquainted them with whatsoever the Lord ordered to be done.

Gill: Exo 34:35 - -- And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses's face shone,.... That is, not only when he came down from the mount, but whe...

And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses's face shone,.... That is, not only when he came down from the mount, but whenever he came out of the tabernacle, where he had been inquiring of God, and conversing with him:

and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him; this he did from time to time, when he came out from the Lord he put on his vail, and when he went in again, he put it off. How long this brightness on his countenance remained, cannot be said with any certainty; Saadiah Gaon says, it did not remove from him to the day of his death: hence it is said, "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated", Deu 34:7 and Aben Ezra seems to approve of it; and it is the opinion of many great and learned men, that it continued as long as he lived.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Exo 34:20 The form is the adverb “empty.”

NET Notes: Exo 34:21 The imperfect tense expresses injunction or instruction.

NET Notes: Exo 34:22 The expression is “the turn of the year,” which is parallel to “the going out of the year,” and means the end of the agricultu...

NET Notes: Exo 34:23 The title “Lord” is included here before the divine name (translated “God” here; see Exod 23:17), perhaps to form a contrast w...

NET Notes: Exo 34:24 The expression “three times” is an adverbial accusative of time.

NET Notes: Exo 34:25 See M. Haran, “The Passover Sacrifice,” Studies in the Religion of Ancient Israel (VTSup), 86-116.

NET Notes: Exo 34:26 See the note on this same command in 23:19.

NET Notes: Exo 34:27 Once again the preposition with the suffix follows the imperative, adding some emphasis to the subject of the verb.

NET Notes: Exo 34:28 Heb “the ten words,” though “commandments” is traditional.

NET Notes: Exo 34:29 The word קָרַן (qaran) is derived from the noun קֶרֶן (qeren) in the sense of a “ray...

NET Notes: Exo 34:30 This clause is introduced by the deictic particle הִנֵּה (hinneh); it has the force of pointing to something surpr...

NET Notes: Exo 34:33 Throughout this section the actions of Moses and the people are frequentative. The text tells what happened regularly.

NET Notes: Exo 34:34 The form is the Pual imperfect, but since the context demands a past tense here, in fact a past perfect tense, this is probably an old preterite form ...

NET Notes: Exo 34:35 Heb “with him”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

Geneva Bible: Exo 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem [him] not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons...

Geneva Bible: Exo 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering ( g ) at the year's end. ( g ) Which was...

Geneva Bible: Exo 34:24 For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man ( h ) desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear bef...

Geneva Bible: Exo 34:26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not ( i ) seethe a kid in his mother's milk. ...

Geneva Bible: Exo 34:28 And he was there with the LORD ( k ) forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of...

Geneva Bible: Exo 34:34 But when Moses went in ( m ) before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Exo 34:1-35 - --1 The tables are renewed.5 The name of the LORD proclaimed.8 Moses entreats God to go with them.10 God makes a covenant with them, repeating certain d...

Maclaren: Exo 34:29 - --Exodus 34:29 The recurrence of the same phrase in two such opposite connections is very striking. Moses, fresh from the mountain of vision, where he h...

MHCC: Exo 34:18-27 - --Once a week they must rest, even in ploughing time, and in harvest. All worldly business must give way to that holy rest; even harvest work will prosp...

MHCC: Exo 34:28-35 - --Near and spiritual communion with God improves the graces of a renewed and holy character. Serious godliness puts a lustre upon a man's countenance, s...

Matthew Henry: Exo 34:18-27 - -- Here is a repetition of several appointments made before, especially relating to their solemn feasts. When they had made the calf, they proclaimed a...

Matthew Henry: Exo 34:28-35 - -- Here is, I. The continuance of Moses in the mount, where he was miraculously sustained, Exo 34:28. He was there in very intimate communion with God,...

Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 34:17-26 - -- The true way to worship Jehovah is then pointed out, first of all negatively, in the prohibition against making molten images, with an allusion to t...

Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 34:27-35 - -- Moses was to write down these words, like the covenant rights and laws that had been given before (Exo 24:4, Exo 24:7), because Jehovah had conclude...

Constable: Exo 15:22--Lev 1:1 - --II. THE ADOPTION OF ISRAEL 15:22--40:38 The second major section of Exodus records the events associated with Go...

Constable: Exo 32:1--34:35 - --D. The breaking and renewal of the covenant chs. 32-34 "If a narrative paradigmatic of what Exodus is re...

Constable: Exo 34:1-35 - --3. The renewal of the covenant ch. 34 Moses had obtained God's promise to renew the covenant bond with Israel (33:14). Now God directed him to restor...

Guzik: Exo 34:1-35 - --Exodus 34 - The Covenant Renewed A. Moses meets with God again on the mountain. 1. (1-4) God calls Moses up Mount Sinai again. And the LORD said t...

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Commentary -- Other

Critics Ask: Exo 34:20 EXODUS 34:20 —Were unclean animals to be redeemed with money or killed? PROBLEM: Numbers 18:15-16 instructs that unclean beasts should be redee...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Exodus (Book Introduction) EXODUS, a "going forth," derives its name from its being occupied principally with a relation of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and the i...

JFB: Exodus (Outline) INCREASE OF THE ISRAELITES. (Exo. 1:1-22) BIRTH AND PRESERVATION OF MOSES. (Exo 2:1-10) there went a man of the house of Levi, &c. Amram was the hus...

TSK: Exodus (Book Introduction) The title of this Book is derived from the Septuagint; in which it is called ΕΞΟΔΟΣ , " Exodus;" or, as it is in the Codex Alexandrinus, ΕÎ...

TSK: Exodus 34 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Exo 34:1, The tables are renewed; Exo 34:5, The name of the LORD proclaimed; Exo 34:8, Moses entreats God to go with them; Exo 34:10, God...

Poole: Exodus (Book Introduction) SECOND BOOK OF MOSES CALLED EXODUS. THE ARGUMENT. AFTER the death of Joseph, who had sent for his father’ s house into Egypt, the children o...

Poole: Exodus 34 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 34 God commands Moses to hew two tables of stone like the former, wherein he promises to write, Exo 34:1 . Moses goes with these tables up ...

MHCC: Exodus (Book Introduction) The Book of Exodus relates the forming of the children of Israel into a church and a nation. We have hitherto seen true religion shown in domestic lif...

MHCC: Exodus 34 (Chapter Introduction) (Exo 34:1-4) The tables of the law renewed. (Exo 34:5-9) The name of the Lord proclaimed, The entreaty of Moses. (Exo 34:10-17) God's covenant. (Ex...

Matthew Henry: Exodus (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Second Book of Moses, Called Exodus Moses (the servant of the Lord in writing for him as well as ...

Matthew Henry: Exodus 34 (Chapter Introduction) God having in the foregoing chapter intimated to Moses his reconciliation to Israel, here gives proofs of it, proceeding to settle his covenant and...

Constable: Exodus (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The Hebrew title of this book (we'elleh shemot) originated from the...

Constable: Exodus (Outline) Outline I. The liberation of Israel 1:1-15:21 A. God's preparation of Israel and Moses chs. ...

Constable: Exodus Exodus Bibliography Adams, Dwayne H. "The Building Program that Works (Exodus 25:4--36:7 [31:1-11])." Exegesis ...

Haydock: Exodus (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF EXODUS. INTRODUCTION. The second Book of Moses is called Exodus from the Greek word Exodos, which signifies going out; becaus...

Gill: Exodus (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS This book is called by the Jews Veelleh Shemoth, from the first words with which it begins, and sometimes Sepher Shemoth, an...

Gill: Exodus 34 (Chapter Introduction) 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 the...

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