Exodus 34:26-35

26 You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk."

27 The LORD said to Moshe, "Write you these words: for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Yisra'el."

28 He was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten mitzvot.

29 It happened, when Moshe came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moshe' hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moshe didn't know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him.

30 When Aharon and all the children of Yisra'el saw Moshe, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come near him.

31 Moshe called to them, and Aharon and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moshe spoke to them.

32 Afterward all the children of Yisra'el came near, and he gave them all of the mitzvot that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.

33 When Moshe was done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.

34 But when Moshe went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spoke to the children of Yisra'el that which he was commanded.

35 The children of Yisra'el saw Moshe' face, that the skin of Moshe' face shone: and Moshe put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Exodus 34:26-35 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.