Exodus 34:2, commentary and pictures

After Israel's transgression and the breaking of the first stone tablets, the command was to be ready in the morning and come up in the morning to the top of Mount Sinai to present himself there to meet with God, where God would write the law again on replacement tablets. Moses was to prepare and come alone to the summit, bringing with him two new tables of stone like the first for God to write upon. No other man was allowed to be seen on the mount or to go up with him, no one was to approach it during his absence, and no flocks or herds were to feed before it. The keeping away of the people and even of their flocks and herds from encountering God's glory showed the danger of approaching Him after the recent transgression. It shows how seriously God regards sin and the breaking of His commandments, and anticipates how those who have defied His authority cannot bear His glory when they face Him as Lawgiver over His broken law.

The summons also shows that God speaks with man and comes very near to those who will be moved by His Spirit. Moses could stand alone in God's presence without fear because his soul was in harmony with his Maker, and this honors faithfulness and truth. There God proclaimed His mercy, patience, goodness, truth, and forgiveness. Moses bowed in worship and prayed for Israel, and God promised to renew His favor to the people.

Moses remained in the mount forty days and nights in communion with God, miraculously sustained as at the first. During that time the Lord wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. During that communion his face reflected the glory of the divine presence, and without his knowing it, it shone with dazzling light when he descended. The verse is set before professing Christians for study as showing that they must act as Christians in order to maintain their connection with God.