Devarim 9:17

17 And I took the shnei haluchot, and cast them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes.

Devarim 9:17 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:17

And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands,
&c.] In wrath and indignation at the sin they were guilty of:

and brake them before your eyes;
as an emblem of their breach of them by transgressing them.

Devarim 9:17 In-Context

15 So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with eish; and the shnei Luchot HaBrit were in my two hands.

16 And I looked, and, hinei, ye had sinned against Hashem Eloheicha, and had made you an egel massekhah (a molten calf); ye had turned aside quickly out of HaDerech (The Way) which Hashem had commanded you.

17 And I took the shnei haluchot, and cast them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes.

18 And I fell down before Hashem, as at the first, arba’im yom and arba’im lailah; I did neither eat lechem, nor drink mayim, because of kol chattatchem ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of Hashem, to provoke Him to anger.

19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith Hashem was angry against you to destroy you. But Hashem listened unto me at that time also.