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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:29

Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. His face "shone"—literally, "shot out rays"—as we say, was irradiated , became radiant . Notice: I. THE CAUSE OF THE PHENOMENON . "Talked with him." Self had been forgotten in communion with Jehovah, in hearing him and attending to his utterances. It is from such communion as this that the radiant countenance results. 1 . What the communion is . God a Spirit. Communion must be spiritual The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:29-35

The shining of Moses' face. This strange phenomenon, one of the distinctive marks which most closely assimilate the Jewish with the Christian lawgiver, is well worthy of our attentive consideration. I. AS TO ITS ORIGIN . Admission to the Divine presence within the cloud had not, on the former occasion, left any such visible trace. It cannot, therefore, be ascribed simply to communion with God for a period of a certain duration. We must endeavour to see how the second sojourn in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:29-35

The shining face. Consider— I. THE SHINING OF MOSES ' FACE ( Exodus 34:29 , Exodus 34:30 ). II. THE FEAR OF THE PEOPLE ( Exodus 34:30 ). The beauty of the glory had something of terror in it. Symbol of the dispensation—"a ministration of death" ( 2 Corinthians 3:7 ). See sermon by Dr. John Ker on Moses and Stephen—"The Old Testament and the New". III. THE VEIL (verses 31-33). The notable fact is that Moses did not veil his face during the time... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:29-35

The shining of Moses' face. I. THE PHENOMENON ITSELF . The skin of Moses' face shone. As to the precise manner of this shining, it is of course vain to speculate; but we may be tolerably certain it was not anything in the way of a mere reflection from a mirror. It must surely have been the shining out for a little while of some glorious gift which had entered, if one may say so, into the bodily constitution of Moses. There may be some connection of this glory with the miraculous... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:30

They were afraid . They shrank from Moses, as if he were more than man. (Compare Ezekiel 1:28 ; Revelation 1:17 .) Perhaps they thought that what they saw was his spirit. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 34:29

The two tables of testimony - Compare Exodus 31:18.The skin of his face shone - Compare Matthew 17:2. The brightness of the Eternal Glory, though Moses had witnessed it only in a modified manner Exodus 33:22-23, was so reflected in his face, that Aaron and the people were stricken with awe, and feared to approach him until he gave them words of encouragement.The word translated “shine” is closely connected with a word translated “horn”; and hence, the Latin version and others have rendered the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 34:29

Exodus 34:29. The skin of his face shone At this time of his being in the mount, he heard only the same he had heard before. But he saw more of the glory of God, which having with open face beheld, he was, in some measure, changed into the same image. This was a great honour done to Moses, that the people might never again question his mission, or think or speak slightly of him. He carried his credentials in his very countenance; some think, as long as he lived he retained some remainders... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 34:30

Exodus 34:30. And Aaron and the children of Israel saw it, and were afraid It not only dazzled their eyes, but struck such an awe upon them as obliged them to retire. Probably they doubted whether it was a token of God’s favour, or of his displeasure. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:1-35

The covenant re-established (34:1-35)When the people first swore their faithfulness to the covenant, they promised to keep all its requirements (see 24:3-8), but in practice they failed badly. God in his grace would renew the covenant, and to this end he called Moses back up the mountain. His fresh revelation to Moses therefore emphasized his love and mercy, but it also reminded the people of his righteous justice. Moses, painfully aware of the Israelites’ weakness, appealed to the grace of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 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... read more

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