Exodus 34:28-35

The Shining Face of Moses

28 And he was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights. He ate no food and drank no water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words.

29 {And} when Moses came down from Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony [were] in the hand of Moses at his coming down from the mountain; and Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with him.

30 And Aaron and all the {Israelites} saw Moses, and, {to their amazement}, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid of coming near to him.

31 And Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the community returned to him, and Moses spoke to them.

32 And afterward all the {Israelites} came near, and he commanded them all that Yahweh had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.

33 And Moses finished speaking with them, and he put a veil on his face.

34 And when Moses came before Yahweh to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he went out, and he would go out and would speak to the {Israelites} what he had been commanded.

35 And the {Israelites} would see the face of Moses, that the skin of the face of Moses shone, and Moses would put back the veil on his face until his coming to speak with him.

Exodus 34:28-35 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

• [a]. Literally "And it was"
• [b]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [c]. Literally "look" or "behold"
• [d]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [e]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [f]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"