Exodus 34:11-21

11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you.

13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.^[a]

14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

15 “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.

16 And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.

17 “Do not make any idols.

18 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt.

19 “The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock.

20 Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

Exodus 34:11-21 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.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 6:25; Joshua 11:15
• 2. S Exodus 23:28; Exodus 33:2
• 3. Judges 2:2
• 4. S Exodus 10:7; Exodus 23:32-33
• 5. S Exodus 23:24; Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 12:3; Judges 6:26; 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16; 2 Chronicles 17:6; 2 Chronicles 34:3-4; Micah 5:14; 2 Kings 18:4
• 6. S Exodus 20:3
• 7. Isaiah 9:6
• 8. S Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24
• 9. ver 12; Deuteronomy 23:6; Ezra 9:12
• 10. Exodus 22:20; Exodus 32:8; Deuteronomy 31:16; Judges 2:17; 2 Kings 17:8; 1 Chronicles 5:25; 2 Chronicles 11:15; Amos 2:4
• 11. S Exodus 32:6; Numbers 25:2; 1 Corinthians 8:4
• 12. Deuteronomy 7:3; Deuteronomy 17:17; Joshua 23:12; Judges 3:6; Judges 14:3; 1 Kings 11:1,2; 1 Kings 16:31; Ezra 9:2; Ezra 10:3; Ne Ezra 10:30; Nehemiah 13:25,26
• 13. Deuteronomy 7:4; Deuteronomy 12:31; Deuteronomy 20:18; 1 Kings 11:4; 2 Kings 21:3-15; Psalms 106:34-41; Malachi 2:11
• 14. S Exodus 20:4; Exodus 32:8
• 15. S Exodus 12:17; Matthew 26:17; Luke 22:1; Acts 12:3
• 16. S Exodus 12:15
• 17. S Exodus 12:2
• 18. Exodus 13:2
• 19. S Exodus 13:13; Exodus 13:13,15
• 20. S Exodus 13:2
• 21. S Exodus 22:29; Exodus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16; Ezekiel 46:9
• 22. Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:9; Luke 13:14
• 23. Nehemiah 13:15; Isaiah 56:2; Isaiah 58:13

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah