Exodus 34

1 ac deinceps praecide ait tibi duas tabulas lapideas instar priorum et scribam super eas verba quae habuerunt tabulae quas fregisti

2 esto paratus mane ut ascendas statim in montem Sinai stabisque mecum super verticem montis

3 nullus ascendat tecum nec videatur quispiam per totum montem boves quoque et oves non pascantur e contra

4 excidit ergo duas tabulas lapideas quales ante fuerant et de nocte consurgens ascendit in montem Sinai sicut ei praeceperat Dominus portans secum tabulas

5 cumque descendisset Dominus per nubem stetit Moses cum eo invocans nomen Domini

6 quo transeunte coram eo ait Dominator Domine Deus misericors et clemens patiens et multae miserationis ac verus

7 qui custodis misericordiam in milia qui aufers iniquitatem et scelera atque peccata nullusque apud te per se innocens est qui reddis iniquitatem patrum in filiis ac nepotibus in tertiam et quartam progeniem

8 festinusque Moses curvatus est pronus in terram et adorans

9 ait si inveni gratiam in conspectu tuo Domine obsecro ut gradiaris nobiscum populus enim durae cervicis est et auferas iniquitates nostras atque peccata nosque possideas

10 respondit Dominus ego inibo pactum videntibus cunctis signa faciam quae numquam sunt visa super terram nec in ullis gentibus ut cernat populus in cuius es medio opus Domini terribile quod facturus sum

11 observa cuncta quae hodie mando tibi ego ipse eiciam ante faciem tuam Amorreum et Chananeum et Hettheum Ferezeum quoque et Eveum et Iebuseum

12 cave ne umquam cum habitatoribus terrae illius iungas amicitias quae tibi sint in ruinam

13 sed aras eorum destrue confringe statuas lucosque succide

14 noli adorare deum alienum Dominus Zelotes nomen eius Deus est aemulator

15 ne ineas pactum cum hominibus illarum regionum ne cum fornicati fuerint cum diis suis et adoraverint simulacra eorum vocet te quispiam ut comedas de immolatis

16 nec uxorem de filiabus eorum accipies filiis tuis ne postquam ipsae fuerint fornicatae fornicari faciant et filios tuos in deos suos

17 deos conflatiles non facies tibi

18 sollemnitatem azymorum custodies septem diebus vesceris azymis sicut praecepi tibi in tempore mensis novorum mense enim verni temporis egressus es de Aegypto

19 omne quod aperit vulvam generis masculini meum erit de cunctis animantibus tam de bubus quam de ovibus meum erit

20 primogenitum asini redimes ove sin autem nec pretium pro eo dederis occidetur primogenitum filiorum tuorum redimes nec apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus

21 sex diebus operaberis die septimo cessabis arare et metere

22 sollemnitatem ebdomadarum facies tibi in primitiis frugum messis tuae triticeae et sollemnitatem quando redeunte anni tempore cuncta conduntur

23 tribus temporibus anni apparebit omne masculinum tuum in conspectu omnipotentis Domini Dei Israhel

24 cum enim tulero gentes a facie tua et dilatavero terminos tuos nullus insidiabitur terrae tuae ascendente te et apparente in conspectu Domini Dei tui ter in anno

25 non immolabis super fermento sanguinem hostiae meae neque residebit mane de victima sollemnitatis phase

26 primitias frugum terrae tuae offeres in domum Domini Dei tui non coques hedum in lacte matris suae

27 dixitque Dominus ad Mosen scribe tibi verba haec quibus et tecum et cum Israhel pepigi foedus

28 fecit ergo ibi cum Domino quadraginta dies et quadraginta noctes panem non comedit et aquam non bibit et scripsit in tabulis verba foederis decem

29 cumque descenderet Moses de monte Sinai tenebat duas tabulas testimonii et ignorabat quod cornuta esset facies sua ex consortio sermonis Dei

30 videntes autem Aaron et filii Israhel cornutam Mosi faciem timuerunt prope accedere

31 vocatique ab eo reversi sunt tam Aaron quam principes synagogae et postquam locutus est

32 venerunt ad eum etiam omnes filii Israhel quibus praecepit cuncta quae audierat a Domino in monte Sinai

33 impletisque sermonibus posuit velamen super faciem suam

34 quod ingressus ad Dominum et loquens cum eo auferebat donec exiret et tunc loquebatur ad filios Israhel omnia quae sibi fuerant imperata

35 qui videbant faciem egredientis Mosi esse cornutam sed operiebat rursus ille faciem suam si quando loquebatur ad eos

Exodus 34 Commentary

Chapter 34

The tables of the law renewed. (1-4) The name of the Lord proclaimed, The entreaty of Moses. (5-9) God's covenant. (10-17) The festivals. (18-27) The vail of Moses. (28-35)

Verses 1-4 When God made man in his own image, the moral law was written in his heart, by the finger of God, without outward means. But since the covenant then made with man was broken, the Lord has used the ministry of men, both in writing the law in the Scriptures, and in writing it in the heart. When God was reconciled to the Israelites, he ordered the tables to be renewed, and wrote his law in them. Even under the gospel of peace by Christ, the moral law continues to bind believers. Though Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, yet not from the commands of it. The first and the best evidence of the pardon of sin, and peace with God, is the writing the law in the heart.

Verses 5-9 The Lord descended by some open token of his presence and manifestation of his glory in a cloud, and thence proclaimed his NAME; that is, the perfections and character which are denoted by the name JEHOVAH. The Lord God is merciful; ready to forgive the sinner, and to relieve the needy. Gracious; kind, and ready to bestow undeserved benefits. Long-suffering; slow to anger, giving time for repentance, only punishing when it is needful. He is abundant in goodness and truth; even sinners receive the riches of his bounty abundantly, though they abuse them. All he reveals is infallible truth, all he promises is in faithfulness. Keeping mercy for thousands; he continually shows mercy to sinners, and has treasures, which cannot be exhausted, to the end of time. Forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin; his mercy and goodness reach to the full and free forgiveness of sin. And will by no means clear the guilty; the holiness and justice of God are part of his goodness and love towards all his creatures. In Christ's sufferings, the Divine holiness and justice are fully shown, and the evil of sin is made known. God's forgiving mercy is always attended by his converting, sanctifying grace. None are pardoned but those who repent and forsake the allowed practice of every sin; nor shall any escape, who abuse, neglect, or despise this great salvation. Moses bowed down, and worshipped reverently. Every perfection in the name of God, the believer may plead with Him for the forgiveness of his sins, the making holy of his heart, and the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom.

Verses 10-17 The Israelites are commanded to destroy every monument of idolatry, however curious or costly; to refuse all alliance, friendship, or marriage with idolaters, and all idolatrous feasts; and they were reminded not with idolaters, and all idolatrous feats; and they were reminded not to repeat the crime of making molten images. Jealously is called the rage of a man, ( Proverbs 6:34 ) ; but in God it is holy and just displeasure. Those cannot worship God aright, who do not worship him only.

Verses 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 prosper the better, for the religious observance of the sabbath day in harvest time. We must show that we prefer our communion with God, and our duty to him, before the business or the joy of harvest. Thrice a year they must appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. Canaan was a desirable land, and the neighbouring nations were greedy; yet God says, They shall not desire it. Let us check all sinful desires against God and his glory, in our hearts, and then trust him to check all sinful desires in the hearts of others against us. The way of duty is the way of safety. Those who venture for him never lose by him. Three feasts are here mentioned: 1. The Passover, in remembrance of the deliverance out of Egypt. 2. The feast of weeks, or the feast of Pentecost; added to it is the law of the first-fruits. 3. The feast of in-gathering, or the feast of Tabernacles. Moses is to write these words, that the people might know them better. We can never be enough thankful to God for the written word. God would make a covenant with Israel, in Moses as a mediator. Thus the covenant of grace is made with believers through Christ.

Verses 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, such as commands esteem and affection. The vail which Moses put on, marked the obscurity of that dispensation, compared with the gospel dispensation of the New Testament. It was also an emblem of the natural vail on the hearts of men respecting spiritual things. Also the vail that was and is upon the nation of Israel, which can only be taken away by the Spirit of the Lord showing to them Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Fear and unbelief would put the vail before us, they would hinder our free approach to the mercy-seat above. We should spread our wants, temporal and spiritual, fully before our heavenly Father; we should tell him our hinderances, struggles, trails, and temptations; we should acknowledge our offences.

Chapter Summary

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.