Exodus 34
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1Yahweh said to Moses, “Chisel two stone tablets like the first. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. 3No one shall come up with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain. Do not let the flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.” 4He chiseled two tablets of stone like the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up to Mount Sinai, as Yahweh had commanded him, and took in his hand two stone tablets. 5Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh’s name. 6Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, 7keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.” 8Moses hurried and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. 9He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go among us; although this is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” 10He said, “Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among which you are shall see the work of Yahweh; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. 11Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare among you: 13but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles; 14for you shall worship no other god: for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 15“Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice; 16and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters play the prostitute after their gods, and make your sons play the prostitute after their gods. 17“You shall make no cast idols for yourselves. 18“You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib you came out of Egypt. 19“All that opens the womb is mine; and all your livestock that is male, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before me empty. 21“Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. 22“You shall observe the feast of weeks with the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of harvest at the year’s end. 23Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel. 24For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither shall any man desire your land when you go up to appear before Yahweh, your God, three times in the year. 25“You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread. The sacrifice of the feast of the Passover shall not be left to the morning. 26“You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of Yahweh your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” 27Yahweh said to Moses, “Write you these words: for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28He was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mountain, Moses didn’t know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him. 30When Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come near him. 31Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them all the commandments that Yahweh had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33When Moses was done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34But when Moses went in before Yahweh to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spoke to the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35The children of Israel saw Moses’ face, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
World English Bible (public domain)
“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Exodus 34:6-7
Summary
Exodus chapter 34 recounts the renewal of the covenant between God and Israel after the sin of the golden calf. Moses is called to come up to Mount Sinai to receive a new set of stone tablets, as he had broken the first tablets in his anger at the people's idolatry. God reveals His glorious nature to Moses by proclaiming His name and attributes, emphasizing His mercy, grace, and faithfulness while also affirming His justice. This revelation highlights the significance of repentance and God's willingness to forgive those who turn back to Him.
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Chapter outline
How Exodus 34 unfolds
Exodus 34:1–4 God Commands Moses to Chisel Tablets
Yahweh instructs Moses to create new stone tablets and prepares him to meet on Mount Sinai, emphasizing the renewal of the covenant.
Exodus 34:5–7 God Reveals His Nature
Yahweh descends, proclaims His name, and describes His attributes, emphasizing mercy, grace, and justice in His relationship with Israel.
Exodus 34:8–10 Moses Worships and Seeks Favor
Moses humbles himself in worship and pleads for God's presence among the stiff-necked people, seeking pardon and favor.
Exodus 34:11–17 Instructions on Covenantal Behavior
Yahweh commands observance of His laws, warning against making covenants with foreign peoples to avoid idolatry and unfaithfulness.
Exodus 34:18–26 Feasts and Firstborn Regulations
Moses receives specific instructions regarding feasts and the redemption of firstborns, emphasizing proper worship and dedication.
Exodus 34:27–28 Moses Writes the Covenant
Yahweh instructs Moses to write these words, reaffirming the covenant after Moses spends forty days in God's presence.
Exodus 34:29–35 Moses' Shining Face and Veil
Moses descends from the mountain with radiant skin, signaling his direct encounter with God, and he veils his face when speaking with the Israelites.
Key verses
Exodus 34:6-7The key verse encapsulates the essence of God's character, balancing mercy with justice, which is central to the covenant relationship.
Main themes in Exodus 34
Covenant Renewal
The theme of covenant renewal surfaces prominently when Yahweh instructs Moses to chisel new tablets, particularly in verses 1-4. This command signifies a critical opportunity for Israel to begin anew after the grave sin of the golden calf, emphasizing God's willingness to restore the relationship. The chapter unfolds God’s unwavering commitment to His people, underscoring that forgiveness and renewal are always possible, even after significant failings.
God's Nature
God's nature is profoundly revealed in verses 6-7, where He declares His attributes of mercy, compassion, and justice. This revelation is crucial for understanding His relationship with Israel, as it highlights the balance He maintains between grace and righteousness. Throughout the chapter, this duality emphasizes that God is not only a powerful ruler but also a caring deity who invites His people into a close relationship, demonstrating His complexity.
Mercy and Justice
The interplay of mercy and justice is evident in verses 6-7, where God's forgiveness is balanced by His justice for the guilty. This tension invites Israel to seek forgiveness while recognizing the seriousness of their actions. The chapter illustrates that while God is willing to forgive, He also holds people accountable.
Idolatry and Repentance
Idolatry and repentance are pivotal themes in Exodus 34, particularly as God cautions against forming covenants with other peoples in verses 12-17. The explicit commands to destroy foreign idols and avoid their worship reinforce the necessity of Israel's exclusive devotion to Yahweh. This chapter serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against idolatry and the importance of repentance in maintaining a faithful covenant relationship with God.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Exodus 34
- Psalm 86This psalm echoes God's character of mercy and grace, connecting with His self-revelation in Exodus 34.
- Deuteronomy 16Deuteronomy 16 connects through its emphasis on observing the appointed feasts, reinforcing covenantal observance.
- Psalm 103This psalm develops the theme of God's mercy, echoing the attributes proclaimed by Yahweh in Exodus 34.
- Joel 2Joel 2 connects by calling for repentance, aligning with the themes of idolatry and God's willingness to forgive.
- Exodus 23Exodus 23 develops the covenant theme, emphasizing the need for loyalty and the consequences of idolatry.
- Numbers 14Numbers 14 connects through the theme of God's judgment and mercy in response to Israel's rebellion.
Study questions
Questions for studying Exodus 34
- What instructions does God give Moses regarding the new tablets?
- How does God describe His own character in this chapter?
- What does Moses request from God on behalf of the people?
- What are the specific prohibitions against idolatry mentioned?
- How do the regulations regarding feasts reflect Israel's relationship with God?
- What significance does Moses' shining face have for the Israelites?
- How does the chapter convey the themes of mercy and justice?
Exodus 34: frequently asked questions
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