Exodus 34:29-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 34:28-35

Here is, I. The continuance of Moses in the mount, where he was miraculously sustained, Exod. 34:28. He was there in very intimate communion with God, without interruption, forty days and forty nights, and did not think it long. When we are weary of an hour or two spent in attendance upon God and adoration of him, we should think how many days and nights Moses spent with him, and of the eternal day we hope to spend in praising him. During all this time Moses did neither eat nor drink. Though... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:29

And it came to pass, when Moses came down Mount Sinai ,.... Which was on the day of atonement, according to Jarchi, that is, the tenth of Tisri, or September; and so the Jewish chronologers F17 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 6. p. 19. fix his descent on this day: with the two tables of testimony in Moses's hand ; the two tables he carried up, on which God had wrote the law, called "the testimony", being a testification and declaration of his will to the children of Israel: when he came... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:30

And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses ,.... Who very probably met him at the bottom of the mount; these Israelites with Aaron were the princes, as Aben Ezra seems rightly to interpret it, and as appears from the following verse; for Moses could not well be seen by the whole body of the people at once, upon his descent from the mount: behold, the skin of his face shone ; darted out rays of light and glory all around it, much perhaps in the same manner as the glory about... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:31

And Moses called unto them ,.... Who, as it appears by what follows, on sight of him were so terrified, that they did not proceed on to meet him, but went back, and therefore he called unto them to return and come forward: and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him ; knowing him by his voice, and encouraged by his call of them, who before might take him to be something more than human, some glorious form, one of the heavenly angels appearing in this manner: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:32

And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh ,.... That is, after Aaron and the rulers had had a conversation with Moses, then the whole body of the people by turns were admitted to come before him, and hear the laws of God from him: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai ; besides the two tables of stone, and the testimony written on them, he gave them all the other commands he was ordered to write in a book, and which are recorded in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:33

And till Moses had done speaking with them ,.... Not when he had done, as the Septuagint version, for then there would have been no occasion for it; but when he first began to speak to Aaron and the "rulers", and continued to speak to the congregation until he had finished what he had to say; even he did what follows, as soon as he perceived there was a glory on his face, which they could not bear to look at: he put a vail on his face ; something that covered it in a good measure, a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:34

But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him ,.... Went into the tabernacle to converse with him, to pray unto him, and inquire about any matter of difficulty respecting the people of Israel he was concerned for, which he often did: he took the vail off until he came out : and so when men are truly converted, and turn to the Lord, the vail of darkness and unbelief is removed, and the true light shines, in which they see things in another light than they did before; and when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:35

And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses's face shone ,.... That is, not only when he came down from the mount, but whenever he came out of the tabernacle, where he had been inquiring of God, and conversing with him: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him ; this he did from time to time, when he came out from the Lord he put on his vail, and when he went in again, he put it off. How long this brightness on his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 34:29

The skin of his face shone - קרן karan , was horned: having been long in familiar intercourse with his Maker, his flesh, as well as his soul, was penetrated with the effulgence of the Divine glory, and his looks expressed the light and life which dwelt within. Probably Moses appeared now as he did when, in our Lord's transfiguration, he was seen with Elijah on the mount, Matthew 17. As the original word קרן karan signifies to shine out, to dart forth, as horns on the head of an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 34:30

They were afraid to come nigh him - A sight of his face alarmed them; their consciences were still guilty from their late transgression, and they had not yet received the atonement. The very appearance of superior sanctity often awes the guilty into respect. read more

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