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Exodus Lesson #16 “The Ten Commandments, 2 nd Edi8on” (Exodus 34: 1–35)
Exodus!!
Lesson*#16*“The*Ten*Commandments,*2nd*Edi8on”*
(Exodus(34:(1–35)((
(( ((( (((Review!
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In(Lesson(#15(Moses(has(been(on(Mt.(Sinai(with(God(for(forty(days(and(forty(nights,(during(which(Gme(no(one(has(heard(from(either(Moses(or(God.((The(Israelites(conclude(that(Moses(is(dead(and(that(God(has(abandoned(them,(perhaps(recalling(how(God(lured(the(EgypGans(into(the(Red(Sea,(only(to(kill(them(all.((Could(God(possibly((have(done(the(same(thing(to(the(Israelites,(luring(them(into(the(wilderness,(only(to(kill(them?((
Desperate,(the(Israelites(turn(to(a(powerful(and(compassionate(god(they(know,(Hathor,(the(nurturing(motherQgoddess(of(Egypt,(whose(center(of(worship(is—not(coincidently—at(Serabit(elQKahdim,(not(far(from(Mt.(Sinai.((There(Aaron(sculpts(a(golden(calf,(the(icon(of(the(goddess(Hathor.((
Atop(Mt.(Sinai(God(tells(Moses(what(is(going(on(down(below,(and(he(vows(to(slay(all(the(Israelites(for(their(disobedience.((Moses,(in(a(brilliant(and(subtle(rhetorical(ploy,(talks(God(out(of(it.((Descending(Mt.(Sinai(to(the(Israelite(camp,(Moses,(in(hot(anger,(smashes(the(tablets(of(the(Ten(Commandments(and(then(“disciplines”(the(Israelites,(slaughtering(3,000(of(their(leaders.((
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In(Lesson(#16,(aZer(se[ling(the(score(with(the(leaders(of(the(“golden(calf(rebellion,”(Moses(ascends(Mt.(Sinai(once(again(to(confer(with(God,(who(says(to(him:((“Cut(two(stone(tablets(like(the(former,(that(I(may(write(on(them(the(words(which(were(on(the(former(tablets(that*you*broke”((Exodus(34:(1).((((
Moses(then(recommits(himself(and(the(Israelites(to(God’s(covenant,(spending(an(addiGonal(forty(days(and(forty(nights(on(Mt.(Sinai(in(an(extraordinarily(inGmate(relaGonship(with(God.((When(Moses(descends(the(mountain(his(“face(had(become(radiant”((Exodus(34:(29).(((
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“The*Lord*said*to*Moses:**‘Cut*two*stone*tablets*like*the*former,*that*I*may*write*on*them*the*words*which*were*on*the*former*tablets*that*you*broke’”*(34:(1).((As(the(great(medieval(French(rabbi(Rashi((A.D.(1040Q1105)(said(in(his(commentary(on(the(Tanakh:((“You(smashed(the(first(ones,(you(carve(the(others.”(
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The*Holy*Bible*with*Illustra8ons*by*Gustave*Doré.*London:(Cassel,(Pe[er,(and(
Galpin,(1866.(
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“Get*ready*for*tomorrow*morning,*when*you*are*to*go*up*Mount*Sinai*and*there*present*yourself*to*me*on*the*top*of*the*mountain.**No*one*shall*come*up*with*you,*and*let*no*one*even*be*seen*on*any*part*of*the*mountain;*even*the*sheep*and*the*caSle*are*not*to*graze*in*front*of*this*mountain”((34:(2Q3).((
This(commandment(repeats(the(injuncGon(in(chapter(19(to(separate(the(people(from(Mt.(Sinai(when(God(gives(the(Law,(but(this(Gme—in(light(of(the(golden(calf(incident—((the(separaGon(is(total,(with(no(a[endants(present(on(the(mountain(as(before.((
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“Moses*then*cut*two*stone*tablets*like*the*former,*and*early*the*next*morning*he*went*up*Mount*Sinai*as*the*Lord*had*commanded*him,*taking*in*his*hand*the*two*stone*tablets”*(34:(4).(((
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“So*the*Lord*passed*before*him*and*proclaimed:**‘The*Lord,*the*Lord,*a*God*gracious*and*merciful,*slow*to*anger*and*abounding*in*love*and*fidelity,*con8nuing*his*love*for*a*thousand*genera8ons,*and*forgiving*wickedness,*rebellion,*and*sin;*yet*not*declaring*the*guilty*guiltless*[“yet(he(does(not(wholly(acquit(.(.(.”],*but*bringing*punishment*for*their*parents’*wickedness*on*children*and*children’s*children*to*the*third*and*fourth*genera8on!”((34:(6Q7).((
As(in(the(1st(commandment((20:(5Q6),(God’s(mercy(and(love(extends(to(the(thousandth(generaGon,(but(his(punishment(to(the(3rd(and(4th(generaGon.((Here,(the(implicaGon(is(that(in(cases(where(offenders(willfully(persist(in(their(wickedness,(rebellion(and(sin(they(cannot(expect(to(be(found(guiltless,(for(all(of(God’s(compassion:((God(is(a(God(of(love,(but(he(is(also(a(God(of(jusGce.((
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Moses,(in(a(skillful(rhetorical(move,(carefully(acknowledges(God’s(jusGce(and(the(Israelites’(sGffQnecked(wickedness(and(sin,(while(pleading(for(God’s(mercy.(
Yes,(Lord,(we((are(sGffQnecked,(but(.(.(.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)((
1. No(covenants(in(Canaan((12Q16)(
2. No(idols((17)(
3. Keep(Passover((18)(
4. Consecrate(1st(born((19Q20a)(
5. Bring(giZs((20b)(
6. Keep(the(Sabbath((21)(
7. Keep(Feast(of(Weeks([Pentecost]((22Q24)(
8. No(leaven((25)(
9. Keep(Feast(of(Ingathering([Tabernacles]((26a)(
10. No(boiling(young(goat(in(mother’s(milk((26b)((
Epilogue((34:(27Q28)(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)((
“The*Lord*said:*‘Here*is*the*covenant*I*will*make.**Before*all*your*people*I*will*perform*marvels*never*before*done*in*any*na8on*anywhere*on*earth,*so*that*all*the*people*among*whom*you*live*may*see*the*work*of*the*Lord.**AweXinspiring*are*the*deeds*I*will*perform*with*you!**As*for*you,*observe*what*I*am*commanding*you*today.’”*(
OZen(referred(to(as(the(“Small(Book(of(the(Covenant,”(the(material(that(follows(the(Prologue(replicates(material(from(the(Book(of(the(Covenant((21Q23),(as(well(as(from(the(Ten(Commandments((20).((This(is(not(a(variant(of(the(Decalogue,(as(many(of(the(commands(are(quite(secondary:((e.g.,(no(leaven(in(sacrifices((v.(25);(no(boiling(a(young(goat(in(its(mother’s(milk((v.(26b).((Rather,(the(“Small(Book(of(the(Covenant”(recalls(the(fuller(extent(of(God’s(comprehensive(teaching(first(introduced(in(the(Ten(Commandments(and(their(applicaGons,(and(later(developed(throughout(the(Torah.((((
The(“Small(Book(of(the(Covenant”(funcGons(much(like(repeaGng(the(key(structural(notes(of(a(musical(moGf(in(later(movements(of(a(4Qmovement(symphony,(creaGng(both(cohesion(and(forward(movement.((
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)((
1. No(covenants(in(Canaan((12Q16)((
(“Take*care*not*to*make*a*covenant*with*the*inhabitants*of*the*land*that*you*are*to*enter;*lest*they*become*a*snare*among*you.**Tear*down*their*altars;*smash*their*sacred*stones,*and*cut*down*their*asherahs.**You*shall*not*bow*down*to*any*other*god,*for*the*Lord—‘Jealous’*his*name—is*a*jealous*God*.*.*.”*
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(In(light(of(the(golden(calf(episode,(God(issues(a(stern(warning(against(any(involvement(with(other(cultures(and(their(gods,(commanding(that(the(Israelites(destroy(their(places(of(worship,(and(implicitly(forbidding(the(Israelites(from(having(any(personal(relaGonships(with(the(indigenous(people(of(Canaan.((Twice(referring(to(such(people(“prosGtuGng”(themselves(to(their(gods([literally,(“whoring(with”],(the(command(includes(raw(sexual(imagery,(portraying(God(as(Israel’s(jealous(“husband”(or(“lover,”(imagery(that(both(Hosea(and(Jeremiah(vividly(develop(later(in(Scripture.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)((
1. No(covenants(in(Canaan((12Q16)(
2. No(idols((17)((
(“You*shall*not*make*for*yourselves*molten*gods.”*(
(The(prohibiGon(against(molten(gods(resonates(deeply,(given(the(recent(golden(calf(incident.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)((
1. No(covenants(in(Canaan((12Q16)(
2. No(idols((17)(
3. Keep(Passover((18)((
(“You*shall*keep*the*fes8val*of*Unleavened*Bread.*For*seven*days*at*the*appointed*8me*in*the*month*of*Abib*you*are*to*eat*no*leavened*bread,*as*I*commanded*you;*for*in*the*month*of*Abib*you*came*out*of*Egypt.”*
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(Passover(is(the*great(archetypical(act(of(redempGon,(the(pivotal(event(in(Jewish(history,(and(as(Exodus(12:(14(states,(it(is(to(be(celebrated(in(perpetuity.((Through(a(ChrisGan(interpreGve(lens,(Passover(foreshadows(the(sacrifice(of(Christ(on(the(cross(and(the(redempGon(of(all(humanity.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)((
1. No(covenants(in(Canaan((12Q16)(
2. No(idols((17)(
3. Keep(Passover((18)(
4. Consecrate(1st(born((19Q20a)((
(“To*me*belongs*every*male*that*opens*the*womb*among*all*your*livestock,*whether*in*the*herd*or*in*the*flock.**The*firstling*of*a*donkey*you*shall*redeem*with*a*lamb;*if*you*do*not*redeem*it,*you*must*break*its*neck.**The*firstborn*among*your*sons*you*shall*redeem.”*
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(As(we(have(learned,(the(EgypGans(pracGced(consecraGon(of(the(firstborn(to(their(gods,(and(by(God(killing(all(the(firstborn(among(the(EgypGans(in(the(10th(plague,(he(deprives(the(EgypGan(gods(of(what(is(righqully(theirs,(u[erly(defeaGng(and(plundering(them.((In(Exodus(13:(1Q16(God(insGtutes(the(pracGce(for(the(Israelites.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)((
1. No(covenants(in(Canaan((12Q16)(
2. No(idols((17)(
3. Keep(Passover((18)(
4. Consecrate(1st(born((19Q20a)(
5. Bring(giZs((20b)((
(“No*one*shall*appear*before*me*emptyXhanded.”*(
(First(commanded(in(Exodus(23:(15,(the(injuncGon(reflects(standard(sovereign/vassal(protocol:((when(a(lesser(person(appears(before(a(greater(person,(the(lesser(person(brings(a(giZ.((Recall(Abraham(appearing(before(Melchizedek,(king(of(Salem(and(priest(of(God(Most(High.((Melchizedek(blesses(Abraham,(and(Abraham(in(return(gives(Melchizedek(a(tenth(of(the(plunder(he(took(from(the(northern(kings(who(a[acked(Sodom((Genesis(14:(18Q20).(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)(
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6. Keep(the(Sabbath((21)(
(“Six*days*you*may*labor,*but*on*the*seventh*day*you*shall*rest;*even*during*the*seasons*of*plowing*and*harves8ng*you*must*rest.”*
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(The(Sabbath(is(first(set(aside(as(a(day(of(rest(in(Genesis(2:(2Q3;(it(is((included(as(commandment(#4(in(the(Ten(Commandments;(and(it(is(reiterated(throughout(Scripture.((Here,(the(clause(“even*during*the*seasons*of*plowing*and*harves8ng”(provides(a(special(emphasis(for(those(living(in(an(agrarian(society,(since(a(farmer(may(be(sorely(tempted(to(break(the(Sabbath(during(the(urgency(of(plowing(and(harvesGng(in(the(agrarian(cycle.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)(
.(.(.((
6. Keep(the(Sabbath((21)(
7. Keep(Feast(of(Weeks([Pentecost]((22Q24)((
(“You*shall*keep*the*feast*of*Weeks*[Pentecost](with*the*first*fruits*of*the*wheat*harvest,*likewise*the*feast*of*Ingathering*[“Booths”(or(Tabernacles](at*the*close*of*the*year.**Three*8mes*a*year*all*your*men*shall*appear*before*the*Lord,*the*Lord*God*of*Israel.**Since*I*will*drive*out*the*na8ons*before*you*and*enlarge*your*territory,*no*one*will*covet*your*land*when*you*go*up*three*8mes*a*year*to*appear*before*the*Lord*your*God.”*
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(The(Feast(of(Unleavened(Bread([Passover],(the(Feast(of(Weeks([Pentecost],(and(the(Feast(of(Ingathering([Tabernacles](are(pilgrimage(fesGvals,(agricultural(celebraGons(with(deep((religious(significance:((Passover(remembers(the(Exodus;(Pentecost(remembers(the(giving(of(the(Law(at(Mt.(Sinai;(and(Tabernacles(remembers(the(forty(years(in(the(wilderness.(((
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)(
.(.(.((
6. Keep(the(Sabbath((21)(
7. Keep(Feast(of(Weeks([Pentecost]((22Q24)(
8. No(leaven((25)(
(“You*shall*not*offer*me*the*blood*of*sacrifice*with*anything*leavened,*nor*shall*the*sacrifice*of*the*Passover*feast*be*kept*overnight*for*the*next*day.”*
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(Leaven,(a(symbol(or(emblem(of(sin,(is(strictly(forbidden(in(any(sacrifice(to(God,(and(the(Passover(lamb(must(be(consumed(on(the(evening(of(Passover—anything(leZ(over(must(be(burned(up,(as(commanded(in(Exodus(12:(10,(reflecGng(the(urgency(of(leaving(Egypt(the(same(night.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)(
.(.(.((
6. Keep(the(Sabbath((21)(
7. Keep(Feast(of(Weeks([Pentecost]((22Q24)(
8. No(leaven((25)(
9. Keep(Feast(of(Ingathering([Tabernacles]((26a)(
(“The*choicest*first*fruits*of*your*soil*you*shall*bring*to*the*house*of*the*Lord,*your*God.”*
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(As(no(person(shall(appear(emptyQhanded(before(the(Lord,(so(shall(each(person(bring(the(“choicest(first(fruits”(of(the(soil.((God(demands(our(best,(not(our(leZovers((see(Malachi(1:(6Q8).(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)(
.(.(.((
6. Keep(the(Sabbath((21)(
7. Keep(Feast(of(Weeks([Pentecost]((22Q24)(
8. No(leaven((25)(
9. Keep(Feast(of(Ingathering([Tabernacles]((26a)(
10. No(boiling(young(goat(in(mother’s(milk((26b)(
(“You*shall*not*boil*a*young*goat*in*its*mother’s*milk.”*(
(As(commanded(in(the(Book(of(the(Covenant((23:(19b),(boiling(a(young(goat(in(its(mother’s(milk(is(fundamentally(cruel,(transforming(a(mother’s(nurturing(milk(into(a(baby(animal’s(instrument(of(death.((The(command(is(also(the(origin(of(separaGng(meat(and(dairy(in(the(kosher(food(laws(of(later(Judaism.(
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Prologue(((34:(10Q11)(
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Epilogue((34:(27Q28)(
(“Then(the(Lord(said(to(Moses:((‘Write(down(these(words,(for(in(accordance(with(these(words(I(have(made(a(covenant(with(you(and(with(Israel.((So*Moses*was*there*with*the*Lord*for*forty*days*and*forty*nights,*without*ea8ng*any*food*or*drinking*any*water,(and(he(wrote(on(the(tablets(the(words(of(the(covenant,(the(ten(words.”(
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(What(Moses(inscribes(on(the(tablets(is(called(“words”(or(“commandments”([Hebrew,(devarim](for(the(first(Gme.((Significantly,(when(God(spoke(to(Moses(from(the(burning(bush(commanding(him(to(return(to(Egypt,(Moses(objected(saying,(“I*am*slow*of*speech*and*tongue,”(literally:((“I(am(a(man(without(words([devarim].”((Here(Moses(is(a(man(with(words([devarim](in(the(highest(possible(sense.(((
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(Imbedding(within(this(discourse(on(“words”(Moses(not(eaGng(or(drinking(for(a(formulaic(“forty(days(and(forty(nights”(highlights(Moses(heroic,(superhuman(efforts(on(behalf(of(the(Israelites.(
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Moses,(horned(“As*Moses*came*down*from*Mount*Sinai*with*the*two*tablets*of*the*covenant*in*his*hands,*he*did*not*know*that*the*skin*of*his*face*had*become*radiant*while*he*spoke*with*the*Lord”((34:(29).((
The(Hebrew(word(qaran,*translated(above(as(“radiant,”(has(the(sense(of(Moses’(face(being(luminous,(metaphorically(emiwng(rays(of(light.((In(the(LaGn(Vulgate,(St.(Jerome(famously(translated(qaran*as(“cornuta”((“horned”),(emphasizing(the(metaphorical(sense.((Many(readers(however,(including(Michelangelo,(read(“cornuta”(literally,(resulGng(in(Moses(sporGng(a(set(of(horns.((
This(divine(fire(or(luminosity(in(one’s(face(aZer(being(in(the(presence(of(God(is(captured(stylisGcally(in(other(works(as(a(halo.((
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Michelangelo.((Moses*(marble),(c.(1515.((St.(Peter(in(Chains,(Rome.(
QuesGons(for(discussion(and(thought(**
1. Chapter(34(opens(with(a(comic(touch.((Why?((2. AZer(the(golden(calf(incident(God(distances(himself(from(his(
people.((How(does(our(narraGve(accomplish(this?(3. God(is(frighteningly(serious(in(his(response(to(the(golden(calf(
incident,(emphasizing(that(although(a(God(of(mercy(and(abounding(in(love,(he(will(not(forgive(those(who(willfully(and(persistently(sin.((How(does(Moses(use(God’s(very(clear(statement(in(convincing(God(to(pardon(the(Israelites,(exactly(what(he(said(he(won’t(do?(
4. How(does(the(“Small(Book(of(the(Covenant”(funcGon(in(this(secGon(of(Scripture?((Why(does(it(occupy(so(much(of(chapter(34?(
5. Why(does(Moses(veil(himself(when(he(finishes(speaking(to(the(Israelites?(((
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Copyright(©(2014(by(William(C.(Creasy(
( All( rights( reserved.( No( part( of( this( course—audio,( video,(photography,( maps,( Gmelines( or( other( media—may( be(reproduced(or(transmi[ed(in(any(form(by(any(means,(electronic(or( mechanical,( including( photocopying,( recording( or( by( any(informaGon( storage( or( retrieval( devices( without( permission( in(wriGng(or(a(licensing(agreement(from(the(copyright(holder.((
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