Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 34:10
And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou [art] shall see the work of the LORD: for it [is] a terrible thing that I will do with thee.
10. Jehovah declares His purpose of concluding a covenant with His people, to be confirmed by wonders of a character to convince all of His power and greatness. The wonders meant are such as those narrated in Numbers 11, 16, 20, 21, &c. The verse, however, is hardly an answer to v. 9, whereas Exo 33:14 would answer it directly: the conjecture (p. 361) that Exo 33:14-16 should follow here is thus confirmed.
I make ] Heb. am making, i.e. am about to make: the partic. after Behold, as Exo 7:17, Exo 8:2, Exo 19:9, and frequently.
marvels ] Exo 3:20, Jos 3:5, Jdg 6:13, Psa 78:4; Psa 78:11, &c.
wrought ] lit. created (marg.), of an event not, as usually, of a material object requiring superhuman power to produce it: cf. Num 16:30 (RVm.), Jer 31:22, Isa 45:7; Isa 48:7.
with thee ] i.e. in dealing with thee: cf. Deu 1:30; Deu 10:21 (also with ‘terrible’): in both these passages ‘for’ is lit. with.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
10 28. The (re-)establishment of the covenant, with the laws upon which it is based. The passage belongs in the main to E; but it has probably been enlarged in parts with hortatory additions by the compiler. We have met with some such additions before, in Exo 20:22 to Exo 23:33; and they are found elsewhere also in connexion with laws, as in Lev 18:1-5; Lev 18:24-29; Lev 20:22-24 (H), and Deuteronomy 12-26 passim.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Marvels – Explained in the following verse. Compare 2Sa 7:23; Psa 77:14.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. I will do marvels] This seems to refer to what God did in putting them in possession of the land of Canaan, causing the walls of Jericho to fall down; making the sun and moon to stand still, c. And thus God made his covenant with them binding himself to put them in possession of the promised land, and binding them to observe the precepts laid down in the following verses, from Ex 34:11-26 inclusive.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Behold, I make a covenant, i.e. I do hereby renew my covenant with thy people which they had violated and voided by their sin. But the shortness of the phrase, there being no mention here of any with whom this covenant is made or renewed, and the following words, make it more probable that this covenant is nothing but a solemn promise or engagement that God will do the thing which here follows. And the word covenant is oft used for a mere promise, as Gen 9:9, &c.; Lev 24:8; Num 18:19; 25:12.
It is a terrible thing that I will do with thee; either,
1. By thy ministry, as that phrase is sometimes used, as 1Co 15:10. Or,
2. In the midst of thee, i.e. of thy people, as Exo 34:11, before thee, i.e. before thy people. This I prefer, because the next verse explains this of such things as were not done by Mosess ministry, nor in his time, but afterwards.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he said, behold, I will make a covenant,…. Or renew the covenant before made the people had broke; which on his part was, that he would, as Moses had entreated, forgive the sin of the people, go along with them, and introduce them into the land of Canaan, and drive out the inhabitants of it before them; and, on their part, that they should avoid idolatry, and everything that led unto it, particularly making covenants, and entering into alliances with the idolatrous nations cast out:
before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; both in their passage through the wilderness, and entrance into Canaan’s land, and the conquest of that; such as the earth opening its mouth and swallowing alive Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and was a new thing God created; the smiting of the rock at Kadesh, from whence flowed waters abundantly; the healing of such as were bit by fiery serpents through looking at a serpent of brass; Balaam’s ass speaking, and reproving the madness of the prophet; the division of the waters of Jordan; the fall of the walls of Jericho at the sound of rams’ horns; the sun and moon standing still, until the Lord had avenged himself of his enemies:
and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord; for it should be visible, as the above things were, and plainly appear to be the Lord’s doing, and not man’s, being above the power of any created being to perform:
for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee; Aben Ezra restrains this to Moses’s person, and interprets this of the wonderful shining of the skin of his face, when he came down from the mount, which made the children of Israel afraid to come nigh him; and of his vigorous constitution at the time of his death, when his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated, contrary to the nature of ancient persons: but it is better to understand it of the ministry of Moses, and of the awful things that God would do by him; or rather of the people of Israel, among whom, and for whose sake, God would do such things as should cause a panic among the nations all around them; particularly what he did for them to Og king of Bashan, and Sihon king of the Amorites, on account of which terror fell, as on the king of Moab, so on the inhabitants of Canaan; see Nu 21:33 Jos 2:9.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| A Caution Against Idolatry. | B. C. 1491. |
10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. 11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; 16 And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. 17 Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.
Reconciliation being made, a covenant of friendship is here settled between God and Israel. The traitors are not only pardoned, but preferred and made favourites again. Well may the assurances of this be ushered in with a behold, a word commanding attention and admiration: Behold, I make a covenant. When the covenant was broken, it was Israel that broke it; now that it comes to be renewed, it is God that makes it. If there be quarrels, we must bear all the blame; if there be peace, God must have all the glory. Here is,
I. God’s part of this covenant, what he would do for them, Exo 34:10; Exo 34:11. 1. In general: Before all thy people, I will do marvels. Note, Covenant-blessings are marvellous things (Ps. xcviii. 1), marvels in the kingdom of grace; those mentioned here were marvels in the kingdom of nature, the drying up of Jordan, the standing still of the sun, c. Marvels indeed, for they were without precedent, such as have not been done in all the earth. They were the joy of Israel, and the confirmation of their faith: Thy people shall see, and own the work of the Lord. And they were the terror of their enemies: It is a terrible thing that I will do. Nay, even God’s own people should see them with astonishment. 2. In particular: I drive out before thee the Amorite. God, as King of nations, plucks up some, to plant others, as it pleases him as King of saints, he made room for the vine he brought out of Egypt, Psa 80:8; Psa 80:9. Kingdoms are sacrificed to Israel’s interests, Isa 43:3; Isa 43:4.
II. Their part of the covenant: Observe that which I command thee. We cannot expect the benefit of the promises unless we make conscience of the precepts.
1. The two great precepts are, (1.) Thou shalt worship no other gods (v. 14), not give divine honour to any creature, or any name whatsoever, the creature of fancy. A good reason is annexed. It is at thy peril if thou do: For the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, as tender in the matters of his worship as the husband is of the honour of the marriage-bed. Jealousy is called the rage of a man (Prov. vi. 34), but it is God’s holy and just displeasure. Those cannot worship God aright who do not worship him alone. (2.) “Thou shalt make thee no molten god (v. 17); thou shalt not worship the true God by images.” This was the sin they had lately fallen into, which therefore they are particularly cautioned against.
2. Fences are here erected about these two precepts by two others: (1.) That they might not be tempted to worship other gods, they must not join in affinity or friendship with those that did (v. 12): “Take heed to thyself, for thou art upon thy good behaviour. It is a sin that thou art prone to and that will easily beset thee, and therefore be very cautious, and carefully abstain from all appearances of it and advances towards it. Make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land.” If God, in kindness to them, drove out the Canaanites, they ought, in duty to God, not to harbour them. What could be insisted on more reasonable than this? If God make war with the Canaanites, let not Israel make peace with them. If God take care that the Canaanites be not their lords, let them take care that they be not their snares. It was for their civil interest to complete the conquest of the land; so much does God consult our benefit in the laws he gives us. They must particularly take heed of intermarrying with them, Exo 34:15; Exo 34:16. If they espoused their children, they would be in danger of espousing their gods; such is the corruption of nature that the bad are much more likely to debauch the good than the good to reform the bad. The way of sin is downhill: those that are in league with idolaters will come by degrees to be in love with idolatry; and those that are prevailed upon to eat of the idolatrous sacrifice will come at length to offer it. Obsta principiis–Nip the mischief in the bud. (2.) That they might not be tempted to make molten gods, they must utterly destroy those they found and all that belong to them, the altars and groves (v. 13), lest, if these were left standing, they should be brought, in process of time, either to use them or to take pattern by them, or to abate in their detestation and dread of idolatry. The relics of idolatry ought to be abolished as affronts to the holy God and a great reproach to human nature. Let it never be said that men who pretend to reason were ever guilty of such absurdities as to make gods of their own and worship them.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 10-17:
Verse 10: Jehovah begins His reply to Moses’ request for renewal of grace. This was not a new covenant, but a renewal of the promises made earlier to Israel. The conditions are the same; this re-affirmation is more detailed than the original covenant.
As a token of this covenant, Jehovah promises to demonstrate His power in a miraculous way.
“Marvels,” pala, “to be wonderful,” translated “miracle” in Jg 6:13. One such “marvel” would be that Jehovah would drive out the nations from Canaan. Verses 12-26 list twelve points of positive observance that Jehovah required of Israel, in addition to the moral and ceremonial code of the Law. The first three are in verses 12-17:
1. No peace treaty is to be made with the Canaanites.
2. All temples, idols, altars, and artifacts pertaining to the Canaanites’ worship must be completely destroyed, see Ex 23:24.
3. Israel must make no molten image as a representation of God, see Ex 20:3, 4.
“Groves” (v. 13) asherah, a modification of the name Ashtoreth. These were structures of wood or metal, resembling trees, emblems of nature deities, especially Baal and Astarte (Ashtoreth). Worship of these gods was often accompanied with sex orgies.
Intermarriage with the Canaanites was expressly forbidden,
because this would eventually lead Israel’s sons and daughters into idolatry.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10. And he said, Behold, I make a covenant It is not specified with whom God would make the covenant. Some interpreters, (386) therefore, supply the name of Moses, and this they seem to do on probable grounds, especially since it is added at the end of the verse “the work (387) that I will do with thee.” But, inasmuch as Moses stipulated in the name of all, the meaning comes to the same thing, if we read, I will make a covenant openly with the whole people. By this promise, then, God, as it were, entirely restored the Israelites, for He declares that He will deal so marvellously in the discomfiture of the nations, as to prove that He is the peculiar God of that people; and this was to distinguish them from other nations, according to the prayer of Moses. he says that they shall all be eye-witnesses of this, that, being thus at length convinced by their own senses, they might sincerely and faithfully submit themselves to his dominion.
(386) Thus the LXX.; Καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσὢν, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ τίθημί σοι διαθήκην
(387) “The thing.” — A.V.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Exo. 34:10-26
THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT
The engagements which man had made with God being broken, the covenant had to be commenced de novo. All the ground must be again covered. The subject naturally divides itself into promises, prohibitions, injunctions. For the other circumstances, see Exodus 23; Exodus 24.
I. Promises. Before all the people I will do marvels, &c.
1. Gods marvels are indefinite, to leave a margin for Him to do exceeding abundantly more than we can ask or think. No man would wish for God to tie Himself exclusively down to certain undertakings and nothing more. In that case, God having literally executed His promise, there would be no more room for faith and hope. So all the great Christian privileges are indefinitefaith, conversion, sanctification, heaven. However
2. God executes definite marvels. God gives us a little that we may have a sample of what He can give, and that little is real, tangible, and experimental, Exo. 34:11. God promises us definite destruction of our enemies, and a definite inheritance in the Promised Land.
3. All Gods definite promises include the indefinite, and vice versa.
4. Gods promises to His people are for general instruction. All the people among which thou art shall see, &c.
II. Prohibitions.
1. Covenants with the people of the land, Exo. 34:12. All alliancesmatrimonial or religiouswere sternly forbidden, from whatever motive, lest it be for a snare, Exo. 34:15-16; (2Co. 6:14-15).
2. Idolatry, Exo. 34:13-14. They were neither to serve nor to spare other gods. This prohibition is binding to-day. All those idols which intervene between us and the service of the true God must be overthrown. Now they excite the righteous jealousy of God!
3. The manufacture of symbols of God, Exo. 34:17, lest they should fall again into their recent sin. Christians should cut themselves off from all that would be likely to drag them back into their former conversation.
III. Injunctions.
1. The religious feasts. Unless religion be based upon joy, and unless Gods service is joyous and free, they are unpracticable. This first injunction is based upon this fact. God is not a hard master, and desires His people to delight in His service.
2. The religious rest of the Sabbath-day. Sabbath observance is one of the root principles of religion. Where that is neglected or desecrated, religion is extinct. This, by the way, is one of the Sabbath arguments which cannot be refuted.
3. The religious consecration of the first-fruits as recognising Gods right to all. This is also part of the Christian covenant. We must recognise Gods right to our time, our property, and ourselves. In conclusionour text
i. Has a special reference to backsliders. God offers to renew His covenant with them on the specified terms (Hos. 14:1-3). ii. To all (Isa. 1:18-20).
J. W. Burn.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Law-Lights! Exo. 34:1-35. Pressense says, that whatever opinions men may hold as to the integrity of that primitive witness, all must own that it contains pages in which one beholds, as it were, the reflection of the lustre which caused Mosess face to shine when he held converse with God. It has ever been the pious mind which has through the eyes beheld the chain of revelation and the long series of Divine manifestations gradually unwind themselves. Just as they that watch for the morning gaze out from the height of the tower, longing with inexpressible desire for the approach of dawn; so does religious consciousness cast glances of fire upon the horizon as she looks out for the Divine Sunrise. The whole of the Old Testament pants and throbs with this Divine yearning, and it also shows us the finger of God writing in the heart of man the great preparation for the Gospel. The angels ever
Draw strength from gazing on its glance,
Though none its meaning fathom may;
The Words unwithered countenance
Is bright as at Mount Sinais day.
Gothe.
Christ and Exodus! Exo. 34:18-26. Take that prism to-morrow and let the sun shine through it, and you will see marvels. The white pure light is divided into many colours. Even so, bring Christ and let His mediatorial glory pour its concentrated flood upon this prism in Exodus 34. Lo! glorious truths of Gospel grace shine with varied, vivid lustre. What glorious rays of saving, sanctifying beauty! We behold the glory of Christ in marvellous combination then in this Mosaic prism. Each ray may be contemplated in itself, but all blend in the glory of God our Saviour.
Flooded with splendour bright and broad,
The glorious light of the Love of God.
Vision-Media! Exo. 34:18-22.
(1.) We do not say to a person of diseased sight, Come out and look at the noonday sun. But we provide the coloured glass as the medium through which he may behold the brightness of the sun.
(2.) Israel could not gaze upon the glory of God, except through the media of rites and ceremonies, &c. The supernal splendour of a direct vision of God would only have dazzled their sight, and not illuminated their soul.
(3.) Under the Gospel, Christians have their media through which to behold the Divine glory. Christ the Son of Man, His words of tenderness and truth, His works of solace and sympathies; these are the coloured media through which we gaze upon God.
O Love! O Life! our faith and sight
Thy presence maketh one;
As through transfigured clouds of white
We trace the noonday sun.
So, to our mortal eyes subdued,
Flesh-veiled, but not concealed,
We know in Thee the Fatherhood
And heart of God revealed.
Whittier.
Divine-Tribute! Exo. 34:20.
(1.) Arrowsmith says, The sun shines by his own nature, the air only by participation of light from the sun. So whatever good the creatures have, is by derivation from Jehovah, the fountain of being. Take away the light of the sun, the air ceaseth to shine, and so it is here.
(2.) Williams says, A right view of benefits received, of the source from whence they flow and of our own demerit, has a direct tendency to excite gratitude; and while the mind is influenced by sovereign grace this will be the pleasing effect.
(3.) The great ocean is in a constant state of evaporation. But there are men who do not believe in evaporation, i.e., in giving back to God of what they received from Him. They get and keep all they can; forgetting the duty of gratitude, overlooking the law of Divine tribute.
I yield Thee back Thy gifts again,
Thy gifts which most I prize;
Desirous only to retain
The notice of Thine eyes.
Guyon.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(10) I make a covenanti.e., I lay down afresh the terms of the covenant which I am content to make with Israel. I will go with them, and drive out the nations before them (Exo. 34:11), and work miracles on their behalf (Exo. 34:10), and enlarge their borders (Exo. 34:24), and prevent their enemies from desiring their land at the festival seasons (Exo. 34:24); they, on their part, must observe that which I command them this day. The command given included the moral law, as laid down in the Ten Commandments (Exo. 34:28), and a summary of the chief points contained in the Book of the Covenant, which must be regarded as a re-publication and re-authorisation of that book.
Marvels, such as have not been done in all the earthe.g., the drying up of Jordan (Jos. 3:16-17), the falling down of the walls of Jericho (Jos. 6:20), the destruction of the army of the five kings by hailstones (Jos. 10:11), and the like.
A terrible thing.Comp. Deu. 10:21; Psa. 106:22; Psa. 145:6. God is terrible to the enemies of His people.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Before all thy people I will do marvels This refers to the unparalleled displays of divine help during the journey to Palestine, at the crossing of the Jordan, and during the conquest and settlement of the land of promise . These distinguished Israel in all the earth, and put the fear of them upon all the nations that saw or heard . Comp . Jos 2:9; Jos 2:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Yahweh Confirms That He Is Renewing The Covenant ( Exo 34:10 ).
God replies by confirming the covenant and guaranteeing the receipt of the inheritance. He does not need to repeat the ten words. He has already confirmed that they will be written on the new tablets that Moses has brought (Exo 34:1). Instead He guarantees the fulfilment of the covenant in practical terms by promising the manifestation of His power and that He will do wonders on their behalf.
The fact that these marvels are to be ‘created’ stresses that they will be of Yahweh. He alone is the Creator. The verb for ‘create’ is never used unless Yahweh is involved. He will create marvels such as the world has never known, and no nation has ever experienced. In view of what He did in Egypt these are strong words. What He will do with His people will be awesome and terrible, even more terrible than He did in Egypt (compare Deu 10:21; Psa 106:22). That He did do marvels we know, using extraordinary natural events to assist His people (e.g. Jos 3:13; Jos 6:20; Jos 10:11-14; Jdg 5:19-22). What He would have done had they been faithful and obedient and entered the land when He said is beyond our imagination.
Exo 34:10
‘And he said, “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been created in all the earth, nor in any nation. And all the people among whom you are will see the work of Yahweh, for it will be a terrible thing that I will do with you.” ’
This is the promise that He is renewing the covenant, and that He is going to do wonders on their behalf which will manifest how terrible He is. Kings at the time constantly sought to establish to their people how terrible they were to rebels and to their enemies. In the same way the nations, with all their debased religion, among whom they are, will see what Yahweh will do, and will be filled with awe.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Gracious Promise
v. 10. And He said, Behold, I make a covenant, v. 11. Observe thou v. 12. Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee. v. 13. But ye shall destroy their altars, v. 14. For thou shalt worship no other god, v. 15. lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a-whoring after their gods, v. 16. and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a-whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a-whoring after their gods, v. 17. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Exo 34:10. And he said, Behold, I make a covenant The terms of this covenant are delivered in this and the 11th verse: God promises to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan on his part; the Israelites, on theirs, were to do what is enjoined in the 12th and following verses. In the Hebrew the first part of this verse is, Behold, I make a covenant before, or, with all thy people. Which I will do with thee, at the end of the verse, expresses God’s presence with the Israelites; as much as to say, in the midst of thee.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Observe how God’s mercies are ushered in with a note of admiration, behold! Covenant mercies are indeed marvellous things. So think his people. Psa 98:1 . So think the world, Psa 126:1-2 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou [art] shall see the work of the LORD: for it [is] a terrible thing that I will do with thee.
Ver. 10. Behold, I make a covenant, ] i.e., I re-establish it with this backsliding people. God receiveth returning sinners with much sweetness “He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” His mercy, to us, is greater than his justice, though in themselves they are equal, yea, the same.
I will do marvels.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
He [Jehovah] said. See note on Exo 3:7, and Compare Exo 6:10.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6) for emphasis.
covenant of marvels. This covenant finds its complete fulfilment in the Apocalypse.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I make: Exo 24:7, Exo 24:8, Deu 4:13, Deu 5:2, Deu 5:3, Deu 29:12-14
I will do marvels: Deu 4:32-37, Deu 32:30, Jos 6:20, Jos 10:12, Jos 10:13, 2Sa 7:23, Psa 77:14, Psa 78:12, Psa 147:20
a terrible: Deu 10:21, Psa 65:5, Psa 66:3, Psa 66:5, Psa 68:35, Psa 76:12, Psa 106:22, Psa 145:6, Isa 64:3, Jer 32:21
Reciprocal: Gen 18:32 – I will not Exo 33:16 – separated Exo 34:15 – make Exo 34:27 – I have Hag 2:5 – to the Mal 2:10 – by Heb 8:9 – the covenant
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE RENEWED COVENANT
Behold, I make a covenant.
Exo 34:10
I. God undertook to do certain things for His people, I will do marvels. What were they? Among these marvels were the passage of Jordan in face of the enemy, the taking of Jericho, and all those other supernatural signs by which God proved that He was with His people and against the unclean and idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan.
II. But God required certain things from Israel.What were they? (a) Not to make a league with the wicked. (b) To destroy their polluted altars, and cruel, bloodthirsty idols, and the groves where so many unclean and abominable things were practised, (c) Not to mix, or intermarry with the ungodly. (d) Not to make idol gods of any kind. (e) To keep the ten Commandments and the other ordinances of their church. Does God make such a covenant with us? What are our Amorites, etc.? Will He drive them out? Gods great love which has provided so great and wonderful a salvation for those who will accept it, can save only those who (a) believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, (b) come to the light, (c) do truth. The New Covenant does not abolish law, but by it
III. God agrees to put His laws into our mind, and on our heart to write them.These laws can only be disregarded at our peril. Do not think, because the Mosaic law is superseded, that you can, therefore, do just what you like. God proclaims Himself as One who will by no means clear the guilty. This is not because God is hard and does not wish to remit punishment, but because the only salvation is sin surrendered. God is not an arbitrary Governor, but it is impossible for the unholy to enter heaven. God has done, and is doing His part toward our salvation. Are we doing ours?
Canon Dawson.
Illustration
(1) In a covenant each party is bound to certain conditions. God undertakes to do certain things for man, if man, on his part, will fulfil his undertaking towards God. Next show that this is not an arbitrary condition of grace, such as a conquering king might impose upon a subject nation according to his whim. There is nothing arbitrary about salvation. It is an efficacious gift to those who use it. Gods gift of grace saves those who are willing to be saved from their sins. They must give up their sins, or there can be no salvation for them. To go on sinning and hope for salvation is futile, though it is very commonly practised. This is Gods CovenantI will do marvels, but thou shalt worship no other God. God does His part, we must do ours.
(2) It is remarkable that the very system which was emphatically one of law and retribution should have been heralded by a word forgiving (ver. 7) which is perfectly evangelical in its whole tone. That fact should have prevented many errors as to the relation of Judaism to Christianity. True, the harmony of the two covenants and the great revelation of the means of forgiveness lay far beyond the horizon of Moses and his people, but none the less was it the message of Judaism that there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Exo 34:10. Behold I make a covenant When the covenant was broken, it was Israel that broke it; now it comes to be renewed, it is God that makes it; if there be quarrels, we must bear all the blame; if there be peace, God must have all the glory. Before all thy people I will do marvels Such as the drying up of Jordan, the causing of the sun to stand still. Marvels indeed, for they were without precedent; and they were the terror of their enemies: it is a terrible thing that I will do.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
In response God announced that He would restore the covenant. That is, He would establish the covenant again. Furthermore He would perform miracles never before seen, namely, driving out the Canaanites (Exo 34:1).
To remind the Israelites of their duties in the covenant relationship, God repeated two of the fundamental ordinances (chs. 21-23) that would determine their attitude toward Him.
1. They were to make no covenants with the Canaanites but drive them out completely (Exo 34:11-16). The Israelites were to live by only one covenant: their covenant with Yahweh at Sinai.
2. They were to worship God as He had specified (Exo 34:17-26) rather than as they thought best. Their failure in this had resulted in the worship of the golden calf.