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Matthew Henry

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 34:33

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 34:33

And till Moses had done speaking - The meaning of the verse appears to be this: As often as Moses spoke in public to the people, he put the veil on his face, because they could not bear to look on the brightness of his countenance; but when he entered into the tabernacle to converse with the Lord, he removed this veil, Exodus 34:34 . St. Paul, 2 Corinthians 3:7 , etc., makes a very important use of the transactions recorded in this place. He represents the brightness of the face of Moses... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:28-35

Fellowship with God and its fruits. I. COMMUNION WITH GOD . 1 . The length of his sojourn—forty days and forty nights. Time sped unmarked in the presence and fellowship of God. The future glory an untiring joy. The redeemed serve him day and night in his temple. 2 . Lower wants were forgotten: "he did neither eat bread nor drink water." The need of the body was unfelt in the satisfying of the desires of the spirit. "In thy presence is fulness of joy." To escape from... 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 34:33

Till Moses had done speaking with them . The Hebrew text will not bear this rendering. All the ancient versions ( LXX . Vulg. Syr. etc.) and the Targums agree that the meaning is—"when Moses had done speaking, he put a veil on his face." And this agrees with the plain meaning of Exodus 34:34 and Exodus 34:35 , which are to be taken connectedly. Moses first delivered his message with face unveiled, then he veiled himself, and thenceforth he wore a veil at all times except when he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:33-35

The symbolism of the veil. The veil upon Moses' face shrouded the glory of his countenance from Israel, except at such times as he spake to them the commands of God. So God himself shrouds his glory from us ordinarily, and only at rare intervals, when he would impress us most deeply, lifts the veil and lets the brightness flash forth. So Christ, when he came on earth, emptied himself of the glory which he had with the Father, hid it away, and seldom let it be seen. Tenderness and... read more

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