Exodus 34:1, commentary and pictures

Exodus 34:1 belongs to the renewal of God's covenant with Israel after the people lapsed into idolatry while Moses was on the mount receiving the law. When Moses returned and found the idolatry he broke the first tablets to signify that as Israel had broken its covenant with God so God had broken His covenant with them. God then renewed His favor in answer to Moses' intercession and worship.

The Lord commands Moses himself to hew and prepare two tables of stone like the first and bring them to the summit, promising that He Himself will write upon them again the same words that were in the first tables which Moses broke, namely the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. Moses is to be ready in the morning and present himself alone on the top of Mount Sinai, where he remains forty days and nights miraculously sustained as before. No man may go up with him or be seen throughout the mount, none may approach the mount during his absence, and no flocks or herds may feed before the mount. Through recent transgression the people must not approach the divine glory as the law is written again, lest that glory consume them.

The law written again is unchanged. Its rewriting on stone was designed to teach its lasting character and the perpetual obligation of all mankind to obey it, because it is the transcript of God's character. The broken tablets represented Israel's broken covenant. The law was not instituted at Sinai, though it was first proclaimed there amid thunder and lightning, smoke and fire, and trumpet.

The renewed tablets show that God forgave Israel and bore with the rebellious for the sake of the repentant among them and the glory of His name. At the same time the command to prepare them and the exclusion from the mount show how seriously He regards transgression and that He honors faithfulness and truth. During that long communion Moses' face reflected the glory of the divine presence and, unknown to himself, shone with dazzling light when he descended, so that Aaron and the people in conscious guilt were afraid to come near him. The verse shows that God talks with man and comes very near to those who will be moved by His Spirit. Studying this chapter teaches professing Christians to act like Christians in order to maintain their connection with God.

The command to hew two tables like the first for God to write upon again points to a last-days work of restoring the tables of stone to their ancient, exalted, honorable position, with intelligent knowledge of the Word given to prepare men and women to contend zealously for the law, reestablish the holy law, and make up the breach made in it. This makes God's commandment-keeping people distinct and separate in the battle before the last closing conflict, drawing many convinced of the truth to their side even as they face imprisonment, flight, martyrdom, and trial before kings, rulers, and councils for defending truth. The seriousness surrounding the second writing points to the fate of the wicked who have defied God's authority when they face the Lawgiver in His glory over His broken law.