Exodus 34:4

4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone just like the originals. He got up early in the morning and climbed Mount Sinai as God had commanded him, carrying the two tablets of stone.

Exodus 34:4 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 34:4

And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first
Which may be an emblem of the ministry of men, which God makes use of in hewing of his people, and bringing them to a sense of their sins, the breach of his law, and repentance for them, ( Hosea 6:5 ) :

and Moses rose up early in the morning:
which, according to the Jews F7, was the twenty ninth of Ab or July, which showed his ready and cheerful obedience to the divine will, and the quick dispatch he had made in hewing the tables; which whether he did with his own hands only, or made use of others whom he directed, is not very material; though the phrase "hew thee", or "hew unto thee", seems as if he were to do it himself, and not another:

and went up unto Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him;
which was the third time of his going there, and every time he continued forty days and forty nights, as Aben Ezra observes, see ( Deuteronomy 9:18 Deuteronomy 9:25 ) :

and took in his hand the two tables of stone;
which could not be very thick and heavy to carry in one hand up a mountain, but must be a sort of marble slab or slate: at this same time an ark was ordered to be made, and was made, to put the tables into, which was a type of Christ, the fulfilling end of the law for righteousness, ( Deuteronomy 10:1-5 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 6. p. 19.

Exodus 34:4 In-Context

2 Be ready in the morning to climb Mount Sinai and get set to meet me on top of the mountain.
3 Not a soul is to go with you; the whole mountain must be clear of people, even animals - not even sheep or oxen can be grazing in front of the mountain."
4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone just like the originals. He got up early in the morning and climbed Mount Sinai as God had commanded him, carrying the two tablets of stone.
5 God descended in the cloud and took up his position there beside him and called out the name, God.
6 God passed in front of him and called out, "God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient - so much love, so deeply true -
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.