Exodus 34

This chapter compares to Chapter 24 in that Moses go up to the mountain, this time clearly alone, and stays for 40 days and nights. It also contains a reprise of the Book of the Covenant (Ex. 20:22- 23:19).

As mentioned before, the second set of tablets was not made entirely by the Lord, as the first set seems to have been. Moses chisels the tablets and the Lord writes the Commandments.

God reveals Himself as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin, yet also punishing sin to the third and fourth generation. This is a milder Jehovah than earlier passages would suggest. Jehovah, however, also gives His name as Jealous.

Yet there is a price to the covernant that God offers. The Israelites are to commit genocide against the polytheists residing in Canaan. They are forbidden to intermarry.

Finally, Moses' face becomes radiant, such that for the calm of the people, he must wear a veil.

A comparison of the injunctions of Exodus 34 with other injunctions

From the Ten Commandments

• Do not worship other gods
• Do not make cast idols
• Rest on the Sabbath, even in harvest

From the Book of the Covenant

• The firstborn belongs to the Lord (cf. Ex. 22:29)
• Appear before the Lord three times per year (cf. Ex. 23:14)
• Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Ingathering (cf. Ex. 23:15)
• Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed (cf. Ex. 23:15)
• Separate sacrifices containing blood from those containing yeast (cf. Ex. 23:18)
• Do not cook a goat in its mother's milk. (cf. Ex. 23:19)

Other injunctions

• Redeem a donkey with a lamb
• Redeem the firstborn son
  Do not let the Passover feast remain until morning