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Exodus 31:18
Verse
Context
Moses Receives the Tablets
17It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”18When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
Sermons
Leonard Ravenhill
David Platt
Paul Washer
Art Katz
Dennis Kinlaw
T. Austin-SparksArt KatzSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
When he had made an end of communing - When the forty days and forty nights were ended. Two tables of testimony - See Clarke's note on Exo 34:1. Tables of stone - That the record might be lasting, because it was a testimony that referred to future generations, and therefore the materials should be durable. Written with the finger of God - All the letters cut by God himself. Dr. Winder, in his History of Knowledge, thinks it probable that this was the first writing in alphabetical characters ever exhibited to the world, though there might have been marks or hieroglyphics cut on wood, stone, etc., before this time; see Exo 17:14. That these tables were written, not by the commandment but by the power of God himself, the following passages seem to prove: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mountain, and be thou there; and I will give thee tables of stone Which I Have Written, that thou mayest teach them;" Exo 24:12. "And he gave unto Moses, upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, Written With The Finger Of God;" Exo 31:18. "And Moses went down from the mount, and the two tables of testimony were in his hand; the tables were Written on both their sides. And the tables were The Work Of God, and the Writing Was The Writing Of God, graven upon the tables;" Exo 32:15, Exo 32:16. "These words [the ten commandments] the Lord spake in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice; and he added no more, But He Wrote Them on two tables of stone;" Deu 5:22. It is evident therefore that this writing was properly and literally the writing of God himself. God wrote now on tables of stone what he had originally written on the heart of man, and in mercy he placed that before his eyes which by sin had been obliterated from his soul; and by this he shows us what, by the Spirit of Christ, must be rewritten in the mind, Co2 3:3; and this is according to the covenant which God long before promised to make with mankind, Jer 31:33. See also what is said on this subject, Exo 20:1 (note), Exo 34:1 (note), and Exo 17:14 (note). "No time," says Dr. A. Bayley, "seems so proper from whence to date the introduction of letters among the Hebrews as this, for after this period we find continual mention of letters, reading, and writing, in the now proper sense of those words. See Deu 27:8; Deu 31:9. Moses, it is said, επαιδευθη, was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians - in all the learning they possessed; but it is manifest that he had not learned of them any method of writing, otherwise there had been no want of God's act and assistance in writing the two tables of the law, no need of a miraculous writing. Had Moses known this art, the Lord might have said to him, as he does often afterwards, Write thou these words; Exo 34:27. Write on the stones the words of this law; Deu 27:3. Write you this song for you; Deu 31:19. Perhaps it may be said, God's writing the law gave it a sanction. True; but why might it not also teach the first use of letters, unless it can be proved that they were in use prior to this transaction? It might be thought too much to assert that letters no more than language were a natural discovery; that it was impossible for man to have invented writing, and that he did not invent it: yet this may appear really the case from the following reflections: - 1. Reason may show us how near to an impossibility it was that a just and proper number of convenient characters for the sounds in language should naturally be hit upon by any man, for whom it was easy to imitate and vary, but not to invent. 2. From evidence of the Mosaic history, it appears that the introduction of writing among the Hebrews was not from man, but God. 3. There are no evident vestiges of letters subsisting among other nations till after the delivery of the law at Mount Sinai; nor then, among some, till very late."
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
When Moses had received all the instructions respecting the sanctuary to be erected, Jehovah gave him the two tables of testimony-tables of stone, upon which the decalogue was written with the finger of God. It was to receive these tables that he had been called up the mountain (Exo 24:12). According to Exo 32:16, the tables themselves, as well as the writing, were the work of God; and the writing was engraved upon them (חרוּת from חרת = χαράττειν), and the tables were written on both their sides (Exo 32:15). Both the choice of stone as the material for the tables, and the fact that the writing was engraved, were intended to indicate the imperishable duration of these words of God. The divine origin of the tables, as well as of the writing, corresponded to the direct proclamation of the ten words to the people from the summit of the mountain by the mouth of God. As this divine promulgation was a sufficient proof that they were the immediate word of God, unchanged by the mouth and speech of man, so the writing of God was intended to secure their preservation in Israel as a holy and inviolable thing. The writing itself was not a greater miracle than others, by which God has proved Himself to be the Lord of nature, to whom all things that He has created are subservient for the establishment and completion of His kingdom upon earth; and it can easily be conceived of without the anthropomorphic supposition of a material finger being possessed by God. Nothing is said about the dimensions of the tables: at the same time, we can hardly imagine them to have been as large as the inside of the ark; for stone slab 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits broad, which must necessarily have been some inches in thickness to prevent their breaking in the hand, would have required the strength of Samson to enable Moses to carry them down the mountain "in his hand" (Exo 32:15), or even "in his two hands" (Deu 9:15, Deu 9:17). But if we suppose them to have been smaller than this, say at the most a cubit and a half long and one cubit broad, there would have been plenty of room on the four sides for the 172 words contained in the decalogue, with its threats and promises (Ex 20:2-17), without the writing being excessively small.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
tables of stone, written with the finger of God--containing the ten commandments (Exo 24:12), called "tables of testimony," because God testified His will in them. Next: Exodus Chapter 32
John Gill Bible Commentary
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him on Mount Sinai,.... After all those laws, orders, and instructions before related, which having done, he ceased to converse with him any longer in that manner he had, and at parting gave him two tables of testimony; the two tables of the law, which is a testimony of the will of God, and contained the duty of the Israelites both towards God and man, and are reducible to these two, love to God, and love to our neighbour: five of the commands of the decalogue were written on one table, and five on the other; or it may be rather four on one table, the first being the largest, and containing the duty owing to God, and six on the other, which regard the duty of men one to another; so Orpheus the Heathen poet, speaking of the law of Moses, calls it (s). "Tables of stone"; the Targum of Jonathan will have them to be of the sapphire stone, from the throne of glory; the paraphrast seems to have respect to Exo 24:10 and, with as little appearance of truth, says their weight was forty seahs; it is more probable they were of marble stone, of which there were great quantities in Mount Sinai. Dr. Shaw says (t) that part of Mount Sinai, which lies to the westward of the plain of Rephidim, consists of a hard reddish marble like "porphyry", but is distinguished from it by the representations of little trees and bushes, which are dispersed all over it. The naturalists call this sort of marble "embuscatum", or "bushy marble"; some think Sinai had its name from thence (u). This may denote the firmness, stability, and duration of the law, not as in the hands of Moses, from which these tables were cast and broke, but as in the hands of Christ, and laid up in him the ark of the covenant, the fulfilling end of the law for righteousness: and it may also figure the hardness of man's heart, which is destitute of spiritual life, obdurate and impenitent, stupid, senseless and ignorant, stubborn and inflexible, and not subject to the law of God, and on which no impressions can be made but by the power and grace of God: written with the finger of God: by God himself, and not by an angel, or by any creature or instrument: and it is by the finger of God, the Spirit, grace, and power of God, that the laws of God are put into the inward part, and written on the heart, to which the apostle refers, Co2 3:3. This account is given by way of transition to what is recorded in the next chapter. (s) De Deo, "prope finem". (t) Travels, p. 443. (u) See Buxtorf. in voce Next: Exodus Chapter 32
Tyndale Open Study Notes
31:18 Normally, each party to a covenant received a written copy of the terms of the covenant. So it may be that the two stone tablets were identical, one being God’s copy and the other the people’s copy, to be kept together in the Ark of the Covenant. • finger of God: See 34:28.
Exodus 31:18
Moses Receives the Tablets
17It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”18When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Books I Recommend With Comments - Part 1
By Leonard Ravenhill12K1:00:42Book ReviewsEXO 3:1EXO 31:18MAT 16:13JHN 4:24ACT 4:12HEB 11:1REV 21:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the life of John Wesley and his dedication to meeting with God every morning at 4 o'clock. The speaker recommends a book called "A Treasury of Prayer" by Dr. E. Hudson Taylor, which explores the growth of the soul and the work of the China Inland Mission. The speaker emphasizes the importance of prayer and shares a poem by F.W.H. Meyer about the power of prayer. The speaker also criticizes some preaching practices, suggesting that some preachers simply reuse old sermons with different texts, while emphasizing the need for both sermon preparation and spiritual preparation through prayer.
A Missional Awakening
By David Platt7.9K53:36MissionsEXO 31:18ACT 2:47In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the language and emotions used in preaching the word of God. He shares a personal experience of a passionate lady who would grab his shirt and urge him to pray during intense moments. The speaker then quotes Jonathan Edwards, who observed that while people are enthusiastic about earthly matters, they often feel dull and unmoved when it comes to spiritual matters. The sermon then focuses on Ezekiel chapter 37, where the prophet is instructed to prophesy to dry bones, symbolizing the deadness of Israel's religion. God promises to breathe life into these bones and restore His people.
Pray and Be Alone With God
By Paul Washer6.4K52:18Alone With GodEXO 31:18MAT 6:33LUK 4:14LUK 11:1LUK 18:1ACT 1:8GAL 5:16In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a Bible conference in the Andes Mountains where he brought a physician. Despite the lack of medicine and tools, the desperate people fought to get to the doctor for healing. The speaker then shifts the focus to Jesus Christ, emphasizing his complete submission to the will of the Father. He highlights the importance of persevering in prayer and not losing heart, using a parable to encourage the listeners to have faith in God's faithfulness. The sermon concludes with a reflection on the urgency of bringing people to Jesus and the need to make the most of the time we have.
Prophetic Reality Versus Fantasy
By Art Katz4.0K46:22RealityEXO 24:16EXO 31:18EXO 32:19DEU 5:22PSA 46:4JER 6:14In this sermon, the preacher discusses the prevalence of fantasy and escapism in our culture, particularly in the entertainment industry. He highlights the example of a space-themed video that his mother watched, emphasizing the graphic and fantastical nature of it. The preacher argues that this obsession with fantasy is a reflection of a generation that cannot live with reality. He also criticizes the false prophets who present a distorted image of God, one that lacks judgment, wrath, and the power to destroy. The preacher emphasizes the need for a true understanding of God and His commandments, rather than relying on superficial and man-made substitutes.
Intimacy With God
By Dennis Kinlaw1.7K33:42Intimacy With GodEXO 31:18MAT 12:28LUK 19:1JHN 4:16HEB 8:10HEB 9:1REV 21:8In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of living a sanctified life according to God's commandments. He highlights nine areas of sanctity that believers should strive for. These include avoiding taking the Lord's name in vain, honoring the sanctity of time, maintaining a sanctified home, valuing the sanctity of life, upholding the sanctity of sex, having a proper relationship with possessions, and being truthful even when it's not convenient. The preacher emphasizes the need to trust in God's provision and take risks in obedience to Him. He also shares a story of a man who quit selling tobacco despite facing financial difficulties, and how God blessed him for his obedience. The sermon concludes with a reminder to be content and avoid coveting, as expressed in Philippians.
The Spirit of Service
By T. Austin-Sparks1.6K28:47ServiceEXO 31:18EXO 32:4EXO 32:32ROM 8:37ROM 9:3In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of devotion to God's purpose for his people. He emphasizes that serving God in the utmost way requires complete dedication and a willingness to sacrifice personal interests and blessings. The speaker refers to the example of Moses and the Levites in the book of Exodus, who had to battle against the enemy and the outbreaking of the flesh in order to clear the way for God's purpose. The sermon also highlights the spirit of Christ in service and how it should guide and inspire believers in their own service to God.
K-485 Covenant Keeping (1 of 3)
By Art Katz1.5K37:00Covenant KeepingEXO 20:8EXO 31:18MAT 6:33LUK 14:33ROM 8:1ROM 8:4HEB 4:9In this sermon, the speaker expresses his concern about the passive nature of the church and the lack of engagement from its members. He shares an example of a church that distributed study outlines for personal Bible study at every level, which helped the congregation to actively participate and apply the teachings in their lives. The speaker suggests that God's dealing with Israel is a reiteration of the same themes of sin, judgment, and resurrection that humanity needs to learn from. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and observing God's provisions, even in the face of opposition, as it brings honor to God.
Isaiah (Part 6) - the Character of the Servant
By Ron Bailey1.5K1:18:49IsaiahEXO 31:18ISA 42:16ISA 50:4ISA 58:6ISA 59:19JER 31:33GAL 6:1In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the overwhelming amount of information and messages they receive from God while meditating on scriptures. They describe how these messages spread and how it becomes difficult to keep up with them. The speaker then shares the story of the prodigal son, emphasizing the father's unconditional love and forgiveness. They also mention the elder brother's reaction to the celebration, highlighting the different characteristics of people in the kingdom of God. The sermon concludes by mentioning the idea that everyone has the potential to be transformed and participate in the kingdom.
Wynne Prison - Part 4
By George Warnock1821:08:21Christian LifeEXO 31:18JER 18:1ZEC 4:6HEB 3:15In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of God's spirit in bringing victory over enemies. He encourages the congregation to listen to God's voice and not harden their hearts. The preacher and Brother George believe that God chooses the outcast and transforms them into His likeness. The sermon also highlights the importance of acknowledging and confessing sin in order to overcome it, with the promise that God will help believers become overcomers.
Our Evangelical Faith
By Harold John Ockenga0EXO 31:18MAT 1:23LUK 11:20JHN 1:1JHN 2:11ACT 1:9HEB 4:151PE 1:3Harold John Ockenga preaches about the core beliefs of the National Association of Evangelicals, emphasizing the importance of the Statement of Faith forged in 1942, which includes the belief in the inspired, infallible Word of God, the Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning death, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Father. Ockenga highlights the significance of these doctrines in defining evangelical Christianity and the need for faith in the deity of Christ, His sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection for salvation and eternal life.
When God Crashes the Party
By Denis Lyle0EXO 8:19EXO 31:18LEV 10:8DEU 29:6PSA 23:1PSA 90:12ISA 41:25ISA 44:28JER 17:3DAN 5:1LUK 11:20JHN 8:1JHN 17:4ROM 14:91CO 6:19GAL 5:21EPH 5:182TI 4:7Denis Lyle preaches on the story of Belshazzar in Daniel 5, highlighting the tragic dissipation and revelry at the royal feast, where intemperance, impropriety, impiety, and idolatry were prevalent. Belshazzar's defiance of God led to a supernatural message written on the wall, causing fear and a search for interpretation. Daniel, a consecrated, separated, and liberated man, was called to explain the mystery, revealing a prophecy of the kingdom's impending fall. The historic consummation shows the sovereignty of God's ways and the authenticity of His word in fulfilling His purposes.
The Better Ministry of Christ.
By Robert Murray M'Cheyne0Christ as High PriestThe New CovenantEXO 31:18EXO 34:28MAT 11:28JHN 14:6ACT 4:12ROM 8:34HEB 4:14HEB 8:3HEB 10:1Robert Murray M'Cheyne emphasizes the superiority of Christ's ministry as the ultimate high priest, contrasting it with the old covenant priesthood. He explains that while the Jewish priests served as shadows of heavenly realities, Christ embodies the substance of those shadows, offering a true sacrifice and interceding for humanity in heaven. M'Cheyne highlights the necessity of recognizing Christ's role as our mediator and the importance of approaching Him for salvation and peace. He urges believers to understand the significance of having a high priest in heaven who can support and save them in times of need.
Law and Grace
By Lewis Sperry Chafer0EXO 31:18HAB 2:4MAT 5:17ROM 5:2ROM 6:14ROM 7:22GAL 3:22EPH 1:6EPH 2:81PE 5:12Lewis Sperry Chafer delves into the contrasting methods of divine dealing with men through the words 'law' and 'grace'. He explains the various meanings of 'law' as a rule of life, including the Ten Commandments, the Mosaic system, and the principles of the future Messiah's kingdom. Chafer discusses the law as a covenant of works and a principle of dependence on the flesh, highlighting how under grace, every aspect of the law is done away with for the child of God. He then explores the biblical meaning of 'grace' as unmerited favor, emphasizing that God saves sinners, keeps them safe, and provides a rule of life through His grace.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
When he had made an end of communing - When the forty days and forty nights were ended. Two tables of testimony - See Clarke's note on Exo 34:1. Tables of stone - That the record might be lasting, because it was a testimony that referred to future generations, and therefore the materials should be durable. Written with the finger of God - All the letters cut by God himself. Dr. Winder, in his History of Knowledge, thinks it probable that this was the first writing in alphabetical characters ever exhibited to the world, though there might have been marks or hieroglyphics cut on wood, stone, etc., before this time; see Exo 17:14. That these tables were written, not by the commandment but by the power of God himself, the following passages seem to prove: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mountain, and be thou there; and I will give thee tables of stone Which I Have Written, that thou mayest teach them;" Exo 24:12. "And he gave unto Moses, upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, Written With The Finger Of God;" Exo 31:18. "And Moses went down from the mount, and the two tables of testimony were in his hand; the tables were Written on both their sides. And the tables were The Work Of God, and the Writing Was The Writing Of God, graven upon the tables;" Exo 32:15, Exo 32:16. "These words [the ten commandments] the Lord spake in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice; and he added no more, But He Wrote Them on two tables of stone;" Deu 5:22. It is evident therefore that this writing was properly and literally the writing of God himself. God wrote now on tables of stone what he had originally written on the heart of man, and in mercy he placed that before his eyes which by sin had been obliterated from his soul; and by this he shows us what, by the Spirit of Christ, must be rewritten in the mind, Co2 3:3; and this is according to the covenant which God long before promised to make with mankind, Jer 31:33. See also what is said on this subject, Exo 20:1 (note), Exo 34:1 (note), and Exo 17:14 (note). "No time," says Dr. A. Bayley, "seems so proper from whence to date the introduction of letters among the Hebrews as this, for after this period we find continual mention of letters, reading, and writing, in the now proper sense of those words. See Deu 27:8; Deu 31:9. Moses, it is said, επαιδευθη, was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians - in all the learning they possessed; but it is manifest that he had not learned of them any method of writing, otherwise there had been no want of God's act and assistance in writing the two tables of the law, no need of a miraculous writing. Had Moses known this art, the Lord might have said to him, as he does often afterwards, Write thou these words; Exo 34:27. Write on the stones the words of this law; Deu 27:3. Write you this song for you; Deu 31:19. Perhaps it may be said, God's writing the law gave it a sanction. True; but why might it not also teach the first use of letters, unless it can be proved that they were in use prior to this transaction? It might be thought too much to assert that letters no more than language were a natural discovery; that it was impossible for man to have invented writing, and that he did not invent it: yet this may appear really the case from the following reflections: - 1. Reason may show us how near to an impossibility it was that a just and proper number of convenient characters for the sounds in language should naturally be hit upon by any man, for whom it was easy to imitate and vary, but not to invent. 2. From evidence of the Mosaic history, it appears that the introduction of writing among the Hebrews was not from man, but God. 3. There are no evident vestiges of letters subsisting among other nations till after the delivery of the law at Mount Sinai; nor then, among some, till very late."
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
When Moses had received all the instructions respecting the sanctuary to be erected, Jehovah gave him the two tables of testimony-tables of stone, upon which the decalogue was written with the finger of God. It was to receive these tables that he had been called up the mountain (Exo 24:12). According to Exo 32:16, the tables themselves, as well as the writing, were the work of God; and the writing was engraved upon them (חרוּת from חרת = χαράττειν), and the tables were written on both their sides (Exo 32:15). Both the choice of stone as the material for the tables, and the fact that the writing was engraved, were intended to indicate the imperishable duration of these words of God. The divine origin of the tables, as well as of the writing, corresponded to the direct proclamation of the ten words to the people from the summit of the mountain by the mouth of God. As this divine promulgation was a sufficient proof that they were the immediate word of God, unchanged by the mouth and speech of man, so the writing of God was intended to secure their preservation in Israel as a holy and inviolable thing. The writing itself was not a greater miracle than others, by which God has proved Himself to be the Lord of nature, to whom all things that He has created are subservient for the establishment and completion of His kingdom upon earth; and it can easily be conceived of without the anthropomorphic supposition of a material finger being possessed by God. Nothing is said about the dimensions of the tables: at the same time, we can hardly imagine them to have been as large as the inside of the ark; for stone slab 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits broad, which must necessarily have been some inches in thickness to prevent their breaking in the hand, would have required the strength of Samson to enable Moses to carry them down the mountain "in his hand" (Exo 32:15), or even "in his two hands" (Deu 9:15, Deu 9:17). But if we suppose them to have been smaller than this, say at the most a cubit and a half long and one cubit broad, there would have been plenty of room on the four sides for the 172 words contained in the decalogue, with its threats and promises (Ex 20:2-17), without the writing being excessively small.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
tables of stone, written with the finger of God--containing the ten commandments (Exo 24:12), called "tables of testimony," because God testified His will in them. Next: Exodus Chapter 32
John Gill Bible Commentary
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him on Mount Sinai,.... After all those laws, orders, and instructions before related, which having done, he ceased to converse with him any longer in that manner he had, and at parting gave him two tables of testimony; the two tables of the law, which is a testimony of the will of God, and contained the duty of the Israelites both towards God and man, and are reducible to these two, love to God, and love to our neighbour: five of the commands of the decalogue were written on one table, and five on the other; or it may be rather four on one table, the first being the largest, and containing the duty owing to God, and six on the other, which regard the duty of men one to another; so Orpheus the Heathen poet, speaking of the law of Moses, calls it (s). "Tables of stone"; the Targum of Jonathan will have them to be of the sapphire stone, from the throne of glory; the paraphrast seems to have respect to Exo 24:10 and, with as little appearance of truth, says their weight was forty seahs; it is more probable they were of marble stone, of which there were great quantities in Mount Sinai. Dr. Shaw says (t) that part of Mount Sinai, which lies to the westward of the plain of Rephidim, consists of a hard reddish marble like "porphyry", but is distinguished from it by the representations of little trees and bushes, which are dispersed all over it. The naturalists call this sort of marble "embuscatum", or "bushy marble"; some think Sinai had its name from thence (u). This may denote the firmness, stability, and duration of the law, not as in the hands of Moses, from which these tables were cast and broke, but as in the hands of Christ, and laid up in him the ark of the covenant, the fulfilling end of the law for righteousness: and it may also figure the hardness of man's heart, which is destitute of spiritual life, obdurate and impenitent, stupid, senseless and ignorant, stubborn and inflexible, and not subject to the law of God, and on which no impressions can be made but by the power and grace of God: written with the finger of God: by God himself, and not by an angel, or by any creature or instrument: and it is by the finger of God, the Spirit, grace, and power of God, that the laws of God are put into the inward part, and written on the heart, to which the apostle refers, Co2 3:3. This account is given by way of transition to what is recorded in the next chapter. (s) De Deo, "prope finem". (t) Travels, p. 443. (u) See Buxtorf. in voce Next: Exodus Chapter 32
Tyndale Open Study Notes
31:18 Normally, each party to a covenant received a written copy of the terms of the covenant. So it may be that the two stone tablets were identical, one being God’s copy and the other the people’s copy, to be kept together in the Ark of the Covenant. • finger of God: See 34:28.