Exodus 34

Exodus 34:1

And. Moses must have descended for the fifth time. See note on Exodus 19:3.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

the LORD said. See note on Exodus 3:7, and compare note on Exodus 6:10.

Hew thee. Moses makes these second tables; Jehovah made the first. See on Exodus 31:18.

write. See note on Exodus 17:14 and App-47.

Exodus 34:3

man. Heb, ’ish. See App-14.

Exodus 34:4

went up. Moses’ sixth and last ascent. See note on Exodus 19:3.

as = according as.

Exodus 34:5

proclaimed. As promised in Exodus 33:19.

Exodus 34:6

GOD. Hebrew. EL See App-4.

longsuffering = slow to anger.

goodness = lovingkindness, or grace.

truth = faithfulness.

Exodus 34:7

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

forgiving = bearing away.

iniquity = perverseness. Hebrew. avah, App-44.

transgression = rebellion. Heb, pasha. App-44.

sin. Hebrew. chat’a. See App-44.

by no means clear the guilty. Not even Christ, when our sins were imputed to Him: therefore, all now in Him are “cleared”, Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6). Hebrew “clearing will not clear”, emphasis on “by no means”. unto the third and to the fourth generation. This refrain recurs in whole or in part in Ex. Exodus 20:5. Compare also Numbers 14:18. Deuteronomy 5:9. Nehemiah 9:17. Psalms 103:8. Jeremiah 9:24; Jeremiah 30:11; Jeremiah 46:28; Daniel 9:4. Nahum 1:3. The visiting spread over in mercy, not extended in wrath.

Exodus 34:8

worshipped. This is ever the effect of the manifestation of Jehovah in grace. Compare 2 Samuel 7:18.

Exodus 34:9

Lord . . . my Lord. Hebrew. Adonai, Adonai. But this is one of the 134 places where Jehovah was altered to Adonai by the Sopherim. See App-32.

for, &c. The moment Jehovah speaks of grace, Moses turns the very charge of Jehovah, in Exodus 33:5, . into a plea and ground for His presence.

Exodus 34:10

He [Jehovah] said. See note on Exodus 3:7, and Compare Exodus 6:10.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6) for emphasis.

covenant of marvels. This covenant finds its complete fulfilment in the Apocalypse.

Exodus 34:12

it = they.

Exodus 34:13

images = sacred pillars. Compare Exodus 23:24; Exodus 24:4, and note on Leviticus 26:1.

groves = Hebrew. ’asherah. First occurrence out of forty: always rendered “groves”, but denotes a phallic image, worshipped by libidinous rites and lascivious practices See. App-42.

Exodus 34:14

is = “he [is]”.

GOD = Hebrew El. App-4.

Exodus 34:15

sacrifice. Hebrew. zabah. App-43.

Exodus 34:18

as. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Onkelos, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “according as”.

time = appointed time.

Abib. See note on Exodus 13:4, and App-51.

Exodus 34:20

redeem. Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 6:6, and Exodus 13:13.

appear before Me. This is an alteration (in pointing) made by the Sopherim to soften the Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6) of the primitive text, which was “see My face”. See note on Exodus 23:15, and compare the other passages where this change is made, viz. Exodus 34:20, Exodus 34:23, Exodus 34:24. Deuteronomy 16:16; Deuteronomy 31:11. Psalms 11:7; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 42:2. Isaiah 1:12; Isaiah 38:1 Isaiah 38:1. In this, therefore, there is no contradiction of Exo 33:20.

empty = empty-handed.

Exodus 34:21

earing = ploughing. From A. S. erian, Latin. arare.

Exodus 34:23

Thrice = the number of Divine perfection. (App-10.) Lord GOD, the God. Hebrew. the ’Adon, Jehovah Elohim. App-4.

Exodus 34:24

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Exodus 34:25

offer = slay. Hebrew. zabach. Supply Ellipsis (App-6), “slay [and pour out]”. See App-43.

Exodus 34:27

Write thou. See note on Exodus 17:14 and App-47.

Exodus 34:28

He = Jehovah. See Exodus 34:1.

tables. See on Exodus 31:18.

Two episodes, concluding the ascents and descents preparatory to the other great event of this section (Exodus 15:22 - Exodus 40:38), viz. the setting up of the Tabernacle, and the command that none of the work was to be done on the Sabbath.

Exodus 34:29

came down. Moses’ sixth and last descent. Compare Exodus 19:3.

wist not = knew not. Compare Moses: unconscious moral strength for testimony.

Samson: unconscious weakness for unfaithfulness (Judges 16:20).

Peter: unconscious deliverance for service (Acts 12:9).

shone = radiated, or was glorious, i.e. reflected as a mirror the Divine glory, see 2 Corinthians 3:7; and compare 1 Corinthians 15:41. Revelation 18:1. Matthew 17:2. Acts 6:15. The Vulgate mistook the Hebrew word karan = to radiate, for keren, a beam or horn of light (see Habakkuk 3:4 and note on the subscription to Psalms 21). Hence the traditional paintings of Moses with two horns.

while, &c. = through his having spoken with him. This interprets 1 John 3:2. Compare Matthew 17:2, and the “till " of Exodus 34:33, and the “until” of Exodus 34:35.

Exodus 34:30

children = sons. afraid. See Exodus 20:18-21.

Exodus 34:32

gave them, &c. Charged them with.

Exodus 34:34

went in: i.e. into the tent.

he took the vail off. And, when Israel turns thus to Jehovah, He will take the vail from their heart, as Moses did from his face, 2 Corinthians 3:16. We, now, are “not as Moses”, Exodus 34:13.

Exodus 34:35

again. So 2 Corinthians 3:13. Greek = kept putting a vail on his face” (imperfect tense). They could not see “the end of the Law”, which is Christ. Romans 10:4.