Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 34:4
And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
4. Moses . . . took in his hand thetwo tables of stoneAs Moses had no attendant to divide thelabor of carrying them, it is evident that they must have been light,and of no great dimensionsprobably flat slabs of shale or slate,such as abound in the mountainous region of Horeb. An additionalproof of their comparatively small size appears in the circumstanceof their being deposited in the ark of the most holy place (Ex25:10).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first,…. Which may be an emblem of the ministry of men, which God makes use of in hewing of his people, and bringing them to a sense of their sins, the breach of his law, and repentance for them, Ho 6:5:
and Moses rose up early in the morning: which, according to the Jews g, was the twenty ninth of Ab or July, which showed his ready and cheerful obedience to the divine will, and the quick dispatch he had made in hewing the tables; which whether he did with his own hands only, or made use of others whom he directed, is not very material; though the phrase “hew thee”, or “hew unto thee”, seems as if he were to do it himself, and not another:
and went up unto Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him; which was the third time of his going there, and every time he continued forty days and forty nights, as Aben Ezra observes, see De 9:18:
and took in his hand the two tables of stone; which could not be very thick and heavy to carry in one hand up a mountain, but must be a sort of marble slab or slate: at this same time an ark was ordered to be made, and was made, to put the tables into, which was a type of Christ, the fulfilling end of the law for righteousness, De 10:1.
g Seder Olam Rabba, c. 6. p. 19.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 4-9:
Moses followed Jehovah’s instructions to the letter. He hewed (or caused to be hewed) the two tablets of stone, arose early, ascended Sinai, and met Jehovah at the appointed place. He took the tablets with him.
The pillar of cloud withdrew from Moses’ tent, and met him on the mountain, symbolic of Jehovah’s Presence.
“The Lord passed by him,” see Ex 33:18-23.
In this Presence, Jehovah proclaimed not merely His Name as at the burning bush (Ex 3;13, 14); He described His attributes and character, compare Ex 20:5, 6. Seven attributes which are almost synonymous are listed:
1. Merciful (full of pity).
2. Gracious.
3. Long-suffering.
4. Abundant in goodness.
5. Keeping mercy for thousands.
6. Forgiving iniquity, transgression, sin.
7. Unerring justice, not ignoring the impenitent guilty.
Moses fell to the ground in awe before the Presence of Jehovah. At this point he became aware of Divine mercy for himself. He then asked for pardon for Israel’s sin and transgression, and a renewal of the promise that they were indeed His chosen people.
God’s mercy and grace are evident even in His righteous Law. Though the penalty of the broken Law was severe, and by the Law comes the knowledge of sin (Ro 3:20), God’s grace provides a means of satisfying the broken Law in the vicarious substitute of the innocent for the guilty.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
What a solemn but yet gracious manifestation is here made of God. This is one of the most striking sermons in the Bible. God himself is the preacher, and God himself in his covenant engagements is the sum and substance of it. Oh! how sweetly in all the after discourses of the Word of God are the same characters proclaimed. Was not that of the Lord Jesus a similar manifestation of glory. Luk 11:28-36 ?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 34:4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
Ver. 4. And he hewed two tables. ] Moses hewed them. The first tables were hewn out of the sapphire of the throne of God’s glory, say the Jewish doctors.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
went up. Moses’ sixth and last ascent. See note on Exo 19:3.
as = according as.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reciprocal: Exo 19:20 – Moses went up Exo 32:16 – General Deu 10:1 – Hew Deu 10:3 – hewed