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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 34:35

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

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 34:33-35

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 34:33-35

Paul refers to this passage as showing forth the glory of the law, though it was but a “ministration of condemnation,” and was to be done away, in order to enhance the glory of the gospel, “the ministration of the spirit,” which is concealed by no veil from the eyes of believers, and is to last forever 2 Corinthians 3:7-15.Exodus 34:33When rather than until should be supplied. Moses did not wear the veil when he was speaking to the people, but when he was silent. See Exodus 34:35.Exodus... 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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