Exodus 34:22-32

22 "Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering[a] at the turn of the [agricultural] year.
23 Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God , the God of Israel.
24 For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory. No one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God.
25 "Do not present[b] the blood for My sacrifice with anything leavened. The sacrifice of the Passover Festival must not remain until morning.
26 "Bring the best firstfruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God. "You must not boil a young goat in its mother's milk."
27 The Lord also said to Moses, "Write down these words, for I have made a covenant with you and with Israel based on these words."
28 Moses was there with the Lord 40 days and 40 nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. He wrote down on the tablets the words of the covenant-the Ten Commandments.

Moses' Radiant Face

29 As Moses descended from Mount Sinai-with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain-he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord.[c]
30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone! They were afraid to come near him.
31 But Moses called out to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community returned to him, and Moses spoke to them.
32 Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he commanded them everything the Lord had told him on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 34:22-32 Meaning and Commentary

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, Ex 34:1-4 where the Lord proclaimed his name, and caused his glory and his goodness to pass before him, Ex 34:5-7 when Moses took this favourable opportunity that offered to pray for the people, that God would forgive their sin, and go along with them, Ex 34:8,9 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, Ex 34:10-17 and he repeated several laws before given, and urged the observance of them, which Moses was to acquaint the people with, Ex 34:18-27 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, Ex 34:28-35.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. The Festival of Ingathering is called Festival of Booths elsewhere in the OT; Lv 23:34-36
  • [b]. Lit slaughter
  • [c]. Lit with Him
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