2 Corinthians 3:7

The ministration of death; of the Mosaic law, which "worketh wrath," and brings death instead of life to sinners. Romans 4:15; Romans 7:10.

Written and engraven in stones; the ten commandments thus written here represent the whole Mosaic economy.

Was glorious; in the circumstances of its institution, and in the objects it was designed to accomplish. Of this glory the splendor of Moses' countenance was the divinely appointed symbol. The apostle therefore puts the latter for the former.

Could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses; Exodus 34:29-35. The glory of Moses' countenance represented that of the dispensation of which he was the mediator; the veiling of his face, the obscurity which God threw over it, in consideration of the inability of his covenant people to behold directly the true spiritual end which this temporary dispensation had in view.