Exodus 34:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 34:10-17

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 34:13

But ye shall destroy their altars ,.... On which they had sacrificed to their idols; since, if they were allowed to continue, they might be temptations to offer sacrifice thereon, contrary to the command of God: break their images : of gold or silver, wood or stone, which they made for themselves, and worshipped as deities; seeing if these continued, the sight of them might lead to the worship of them, and so bring under the divine displeasure, as a breach of the command of God given... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 34:13

Ye shall destroy their images - See the subjects of this and all the following verses, to Exodus 34:28 , treated at large in the notes on Exodus 23 (note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:1-28

Renewal of the tables, and fourth intercession. One more mighty effort of intercession, and Moses will bear away the blessing which he seeks. It needs, however, that it be a mighty one. The covenant is not yet restored in its integrity. The people's sin is not yet perfectly forgiven. God, indeed, has promised to go with them, but he has not said, as of old, " I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God" ( Exodus 6:7 ). The new relations are not those of perfected... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:9-26

1 . That he would go up with them; 2 . That he would pardon them; and 3 . That he would once more take them as his inheritance ( Exodus 34:9 ). Without replying separately to these requests, God formally renews the covenant; promises not only to go up with the people, but to work miracles for them ( Exodus 34:10 ), and to drive out the nations before them when they have arrived ( Exodus 34:11 ); and makes a brief summary of the chief points of positive observance, which he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:9-26

The covenant renewed. That God should have consented to renew the covenant with Israel after it had been violated so flagrantly is evidence of two things: 1 . His faithfulness towards his true followers, which makes him "merciful unto thousands of those that love him," and renders him tender to the children for the sake of the fathers; 2 . The value that he sets on intercessory prayer, when offered earnestly by a believer. In the renewal itself we may notice:— I. THAT THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:10-29

Revived obligations. Former instructions are renewed; only, however, so far as relates to the duties of religion. Renewal of the civil code was not required. Subject to this limit, the new book of the covenant ( Exodus 34:27 ) revives, supplements, expands, and endorses the teachings and precepts of the old one. We have in it— I. PROMISE ( Exodus 34:10 , Exodus 34:11 ). God, as on the former occasion ( Exodus 23:23-30 ), pledges himself to drive out all their enemies. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 34:13

Ye shall destroy their altars , etc. This command is more sweeping than the corresponding one in the "Book of the Covenant" ( Exodus 23:24 ), which expressly mentions only the "images." Here the destruction of idol-altars and idol-groves is further commanded. On idol-altars, see Numbers 23:1 , Numbers 23:29 ; 2:2 ; 1 Kings 16:32 ; 1 Kings 18:26 , etc. Groves are here for the first time mentioned. They appear to have been artificial constructions, either of wood or metal, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 34:12-27

The precepts contained in these verses are, for the most part, identical in substance with some of those which follow the Ten Commandments and are recorded in “the Book of the covenant” (Exo. 20–23; see Exodus 24:7).Exodus 34:13Cut down their groves - This is the first reference to what is commonly known as grove-worship. The original word for “grove” in this connection אשׁרה 'ăshêrāh is different from that so rendered in Genesis 21:33. Our translators supposed that what the law commands is... 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

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