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Exodus 34

35 verses

TL;DR

God renews the covenant on new stone tablets at Mount Sinai, giving Moses a detailed set of laws and promises, while Moses’ face shines as a sign of divine encounter.

Summary

God commands Moses to carve two new stone tablets, reminding him of the original covenant that was broken. The Lord descends, declares His merciful nature, and re-establishes the covenant, promising blessings for obedience and warning of consequences for disobedience. Moses receives explicit laws regarding worship, festivals, the treatment of firstborns, Sabbath rest, and prohibitions against idolatry. After the laws are given, Moses’ face shines due to his prolonged communion with God, causing the Israelites to fear him until Moses re‑encloses his face with a veil. The chapter concludes with Moses delivering the covenant to the people, fulfilling his role as mediator between God and Israel.

Outline
  1. Moses receives new stone tablets and the renewed covenant at Mount Sinai
  2. Detailed laws and promises are given, covering worship, festivals, and moral conduct
  3. Moses’ shining face and the communication of the covenant to Israel
Themes
Covenant renewal and continuityLaw and worship as expressions of holinessDivine revelation and human mediation
Keywords
covenantlawSinaitabletsfirstbornSabbathfeast of unleavened breadvailshining faceJealous God
People
MosesAaronthe Israelitesthe LORD (God)
Places
Mount Sinaithe mountthe house of the LORD
Things
stone tabletscovenantfirstbornSabbathfeasts (unleavened, weeks, ingathering)vailshining face
Key Verses
  • Exodus 34:6: God declares His merciful, long‑suffering, and faithful character, setting the tone for the covenant.
  • Exodus 34:10: God promises to perform marvelous deeds and declares His covenant with the Israelites.
  • Exodus 34:28: Moses writes the ten commandments on the new tablets, completing the covenant record.
  • Exodus 34:30: Moses’ face shines, symbolizing the extraordinary encounter with God and the need for a veil.
Questions
  • What does Moses’ shining face reveal about his relationship with God?
  • How does the covenant in Exodus 34 compare to the original covenant in Exodus 19‑20?
  • In what ways do the laws given in this chapter reflect God’s character as described in verse 6?
  • Why is the vail used by Moses when speaking to the people?
  • What is the significance of the repeated theme of covenant faithfulness in this chapter?
Sentiment

positive
The passage presents hope through covenant renewal while also offering stern warnings, resulting in an overall hopeful yet admonitory tone.