Moses must prepare for the renewing of the tables. Before God himself provided the tables, and wrote on them; now Moses must hew him out the tables, and God would only write upon them. When God was reconciled to them, he ordered the tables to be renewed, and wrote his law in them, which plainly inti... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord descended — By some sensible token of his presence, and manifestation of his glory. He descended in the cloud — Probably that pillar of cloud which had hitherto gone before Israel, and had the day before met Moses at the door of the tabernacle.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Lord passed by before him — Fixed views of God are reserved for the future state; the best we have in this world are transient. And proclaimed the name of the Lord — By which he would make himself known. He had made himself known to Moses in the glory of his self — existence, and self — suff... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses made haste, and bowed his head — Thus he expressed his humble reverence and adoration of God's glory, together with his joy in this discovery God had made of himself, and his thankfulness for it. Then likewise he expressed his holy submission to the will of God made known in this declarati... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, I pray thee go among us — For thy presence is all to our safety and success. And pardon our iniquity and our sin — Else we cannot expect thee to go among us. And take us for thine inheritance — Which thou wilt have a particular eye to, and concern for. These things God had already promi... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold I make a covenant — When the covenant was broke, it was Israel that broke it; now it comes to be renewed, it is God that makes it. If there be quarrels, we must bear all the blame; if there be peace, God must have all the glory. Before all thy people I will do marvels — Such as the drying up... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe that which I command thee — We cannot expect the benefit of the promises, unless we make conscience of the precepts. The two great precepts are, Thou shalt worship no other gods — A good reason is annexed; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God — As tender in the matters of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed to thyself — It is a sin thou art prone to, and that will easily beset thee; carefully abstain from all advances towards it, make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land — If God in kindness to them drove out the Canaanites, they ought in duty to God not to harbour them: If they espou... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is a repetition of several appointments made before, especially relating to their solemn feasts: when they had made the calf they proclaimed a feast in honour of it; now, that they might never do so again, they are here charged with the observance of the feasts which God had instituted. Thou sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Thrice in the year shall all the men — children appear — But it might be suggested, when all the males slain every part were gone up to worship in the place that God should chuse, the country would he left exposed to the insults of their neighbours; and what would become of the poor women and childr... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither shalt any man desire thy land — Not only they shall not invade it, but they shall not so much as think of invading it. What a standing Miracle was this, for so many Generations?... [ Continue Reading ]
He wrote — God.... [ Continue Reading ]
The skin of his face shone — This time of his being in the mount he heard only the same he had heard before. But he saw more of the glory of God, which having with open face beheld, he was in some measure changed into the same image. This was a great honour done to Moses, that the people might never... [ Continue Reading ]
And Aaron and the children of Israel saw it, and were afraid — It not only dazzled their eyes, but struck such an awe upon them as obliged them to retire. Probably they doubted whether it was a token of God's favour, or of his displeasure.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses put a veil upon his face — This veil signified the darkness of that dispensation; the ceremonial institutions had in them much of Christ and the gospel, but a veil was drawn over it, so that the children of Israel could not distinctly and steadfastly see those good things to come which the... [ Continue Reading ]
When he went before the Lord, he put off the veil — Every veil must be thrown aside when we go to present ourselves unto the Lord. This signified also, as it is explained, 2 Corinthians 3:16, that when a soul turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away, that with open face it may behold his glor... [ Continue Reading ]