The Second Pair of Tablets
October 4, 2020
Commentary
Moses reminded the Israelites of God’s great mercy to them. The Lord acting on Moses’ request not to destroy the people, rewrote the Ten Commandments (vv. 1-5). When Moses broke the Commandments after Israel had made a golden calf, that symbolically broke their covenant relationship. Now he shapes two slabs of stone similar to the first ones. God engraves them with the same words that were on the first ones (vv. 2-4). Moses then puts them in the Ark which symbolically shows that Israel accepts their part of the covenant and will obey the commandments.
The people of Israel went from the wells of the Jaakasnites to Moserah (Israelite Campground). It was here that Aaron died and was buried. His son Eleazar succeeded him as priest (v. 6). From there they went to Gudgodah (Israelite camp in the wilderness, near Ezion Geber), and then to Jotbathah (another Campground in the wilderness), a land that had many streams of water (v. 7). That is when God set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Covenant, to be on duty in the presence of God, to serve Him, and to bless in His name (v. 8). That is why the Levites don’t have a piece of inherited land as their kinsmen do (v. 9). This reference to the appointment of the tribe of Levi for priestly service carries with it a spiritual responsibility. The Levites were not allowed to own property (Deut. 18:1-2). They were to be sustained by the gifts that the people brought to the place of worship. The Lord answered the prayers of Moses (v. 10). He did not destroy the Israelites after he received the ten commandments.
Application
My life was stained with sin, but Jesus’ blood covered this stain with His righteousness.
Deuteronomy 10:1– 10 (NET)
1 At that same time the Lord said to me, “Carve out for yourself two stone tablets like the first ones and come up the mountain to me; also make for yourself a wooden ark. 2 I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you must put them into the ark.” 3 So I made an ark of acacia wood and carved out two stone tablets just like the first ones. Then I went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. 4 The Lord then wrote on the tablets the same words, the Ten Commandments, which he had spoken to you at the mountain from the middle of the fire at the time of that assembly, and he gave them to me. 5 Then I turned, went down the mountain, and placed the tablets into the ark I had made—they are still there, just as the Lord commanded me.
6 During those days the Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and was buried, and his son Eleazar became priest in his place. 7 From there they traveled to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a place of flowing streams. 8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, to stand before the Lord to serve him, and to formulate blessings in his name, as they do to this very day. 9 Therefore Levi has no allotment or inheritance among his brothers; the Lord is his inheritance just as the Lord your God told him. 10 As for me, I stayed at the mountain as I did the first time, forty days and nights. The Lord listened to me that time as well and decided not to destroy you.