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CHAPTER 13: Moses A Second Time On The Mount - On His Return His
Face Shineth - The Rearing Of TheTabernacle - Its Consecration By The
Seen Presence Of Jehovah Exodus 34-50
THE covenant relationship between God and Israel having been happily restored,
Moses wasdirected to bring into the mount other two tables -this time of his own
preparing - instead of thosewhich he had broken, that God might once more write
down the "ten words." (Exodus 34:1-4)Again he passed forty days and forty nights on
Sinai without either eating or drinking (34:28). Thecommunications which he received
were preceded by that glorious vision of Jehovah's brightness,which had been
promised to him. What he saw is nowhere told us; only what he, heard, whenJehovah"
proclaimed" before him what Luther aptly designates as "the sermon about the name
ofGod." It unfolded His inmost being, as that of love unspeakable - the cumulation of
terms beingintended to present that love in all its aspects. And, in the words of a
recent German writer "Such asJehovah here proclaimed, He also manifested it among
Israel at all times, from Mount Sinai until Hebrought them into the land of Canaan;
and thence till He cast them out among the heathen. Nay, evennow in their
banishment, He is 'keeping mercy for thousands, who turn to the Redeemer that
hascome out of Zion.'"
When Moses thus fully understood the character of Jehovah, he could once more
plead for Israel,now converting into a plea for forgiveness even the reason which had
seemed to make the presenceof Jehovah among Israel dangerous - that they were a
stiff-necked people (ver. 9). In the samemanner had the Lord, in speaking to Noah,
made the sin of man, which had erst provoked judgment,the ground for future
forbearance. (Genesis 6:5, 6; Genesis 8:21) And the Lord now graciouslyconfirmed
once more His covenant with Israel. In so doing He reminded them of its two
conditions,the one negative, the other positive, but both strictly connected, and both
applying to the time whenMoses should be no more, and Israel had entered on
possession of the Promised Land. These twoconditions were always to be observed, if
the covenant was to be maintained. The one wasavoidance of all contact with the
Canaanites and their idolatry (vers. 11-16); the other, observanceof the service of
Jehovah in the manner prescribed by Him (vers. 17-26).
Another confirmation of the Divine message which Moses bore from the mount,
appeared on hisreturn among Israel. All unknown to himself, the reflection of the
Divine glory had been left upon him,and "the skin of his face shone (shot out rays)
because of His (God's) talking with him."
As Aaron and the children of Israel were afraid of this reflection of the Divine glory,
Moses had touse a coveting for his face while speaking to them, which he only
(^)