- Book: [[Exodus]] - Previous chapter: [[Exodus 33]] - Next chapter: [[Exodus 35]] > [!summary] Summary > - God proclaims his name to [[Moses]] on new stone tablets: "The Lord, the Lord, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" > - The covenant is renewed: [[Israel]] must destroy [[Canaanite]] worship sites, keep the festivals, and not intermarry with the nations > - [[Moses]] descends with his face radiant after forty days in God's presence; he wears a veil when not speaking with God > [!info] Why is this here? > - The proclamation of God's name is the climax of the book — after the golden calf crisis, God reveals his character as the basis for covenant restoration > - The thirteen attributes of God ("compassionate and gracious...") become the most-cited divine self-description in the entire Old Testament > - [[Moses]]' radiant face and veil show that extended time in God's presence transforms — the new covenant glory will surpass even this ([[2 Cor 3]]) # Overview ## v. 1-4: New stone tablets - God commands [[Moses]] to chisel new tablets like the first ones he broke - [[Moses]] must come alone to the top of [[Sinai]] at dawn - [[Moses]] rises early, cuts the tablets, and carries them up ## v. 5-9: The proclamation of God's name - God comes down in the cloud and stands with [[Moses]]; he passes before [[Moses]] proclaiming his name - "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished" - [[Moses]] bows and worships immediately - [[Moses]] intercedes: though [[Israel]] is stiff-necked, forgive them and take them as your inheritance > [!note] The thirteen attributes > The divine self-description (v. 6-7) becomes a touchstone throughout the Old Testament — cited in [[Nehemiah 9]], [[Joel 2]], [[Jonah 4]], [[Micah 7]], and many Psalms. God's willingness to renew the covenant with rebellious [[Israel]] is grounded in who he fundamentally is. ## v. 10-17: Covenant renewed - God makes a covenant: he will do wonders no nation has ever seen - [[Israel]]'s obligations: destroy [[Canaanite]] altars, sacred stones, and [[Asherah]] poles; do not worship other gods - Do not make covenants with inhabitants; do not intermarry — their daughters will lead [[Israel]]'s sons away from God - "The Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" ## v. 18-26: Festival laws restated - Festival of Unleavened Bread; firstborn offerings; [[Sabbath]] rest even in plowing and harvest - Festival of Weeks; Festival of Ingathering; three annual appearances before the Lord - No sacrificial blood with yeast; firstfruits to God's house; do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk ## v. 27-35: [[Moses]]' radiant face and the veil - [[Moses]] is with the Lord forty days and nights without eating or drinking; he writes the covenant words - When [[Moses]] comes down, his face is radiant from speaking with God — he is unaware of it - [[Aaron]] and the people are afraid to come near him - [[Moses]] calls them, speaks all the commands; then puts a veil over his face - Whenever [[Moses]] enters to speak with God, he removes the veil; when he comes out he tells [[Israel]] what was commanded, then replaces the veil