The Second Pair of Tablets

Deuteronomy 10:1–10
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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.