Deuteronomy 10 3

Deuteronomy 10:3 kjv

And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.

Deuteronomy 10:3 nkjv

"So I made an ark of acacia wood, hewed two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand.

Deuteronomy 10:3 niv

So I made the ark out of acacia wood and chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hands.

Deuteronomy 10:3 esv

So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.

Deuteronomy 10:3 nlt

"So I made an Ark of acacia wood and cut two stone tablets like the first two. Then I went up the mountain with the tablets in my hand.

Deuteronomy 10 verses

Deuteronomy 10 3 Meaning

Deuteronomy 10:3 describes Moses' actions in obedience to God's command to renew the covenant. It states that Moses crafted two new tablets of stone, identical in material and nature to the first set which had been broken. Alongside this, he fashioned a simple ark from acacia wood, intended to house these newly inscribed covenant tablets. This verse highlights divine forgiveness, the renewal of the Law after Israel's sin with the golden calf, and Moses' diligent response as God's mediator.

Deuteronomy 10 3 Context

Deuteronomy 10:3 is embedded within Moses' second discourse to Israel, delivered on the plains of Moab as the people prepared to enter Canaan. Specifically, this verse is part of Moses' recounting of significant events from Israel's time at Mount Horeb (Sinai), focusing on the renewal of the covenant after the catastrophic golden calf incident. Chapter 10 reiterates God's unwavering faithfulness and mercy despite Israel's grave sin. Moses reminds the generation about to enter the Promised Land that God, out of His sovereign grace, gave them a second chance, represented by the re-cutting of the tablets and the construction of an ark for them. This particular ark, made by Moses, served as a temporary receptacle for the newly written Law, demonstrating immediate divine provision and the necessity of preserving the covenant instructions before the more elaborate Ark of the Covenant (crafted by Bezalel) was completed. The context emphasizes God's patience and the importance of remembering divine commands.

Deuteronomy 10 3 Word analysis

• וָאַעֲשֶׂה (va'a'aseh) – "So I made" / "And I made":
  • This is a Waw-consecutive imperfect verb, conveying sequential action and emphasizing Moses' direct and immediate obedience to God's command in Deuteronomy 10:1.
  • Significance: Highlights Moses' mediatorial role and prompt fulfillment of the divine instruction, essential for the covenant's restoration.
• שְׁנֵי (sh'nay) – "two":
  • Refers to the two distinct tablets, signifying the duality of the covenant (duties to God and duties to fellow humans) or completeness.
  • Significance: Reiterates the precise form of the Law given at Sinai and its comprehensive nature.
• לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים (luchot avanim) – "tablets of stone":
  • Luchot refers to flat surfaces or tablets; avanim specifies they were made of stone.
  • Significance: Stone conveys durability, permanence, and the unchangeable nature of divine law. It links these new tablets directly to the initial, divinely inscribed ones.
• כָּרִאשֹׁנִים (ka-rishonim) – "like the first":
  • The prefix ka- means "like" or "as"; rishonim means "first ones."
  • Significance: Underscores that the replacement tablets were not a new or different law, but the same eternal divine instruction, emphasizing God's constancy and the immutability of His covenant principles, even after human failure. It also signals divine restoration, picking up precisely where the previous covenant experience left off, despite human breakage.
• וָאֶעֱשֶׂה (va'e'eseh) – "and I made":
  • Another Waw-consecutive imperfect, emphasizing a second, related action by Moses following the making of the tablets.
  • Significance: Conveys a concurrent or subsequent act of obedience.
• אֲרוֹן (aron) – "an ark" / "a chest":
  • Refers to a chest or container. This is a simpler, temporary chest constructed by Moses specifically for the new tablets, distinguishing it from the ornate, permanent Ark of the Covenant later constructed by Bezalel (Exod 37) under God's detailed specifications.
  • Significance: Its immediate purpose was to safely house the sacred Law. It symbolizes the provisional arrangements necessary for safeguarding divine revelation, highlighting the Law's centrality to Israel's life and the need to protect God's word.
• עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים (atzei shittim) – "of acacia wood":
  • Atzei means "wood of"; shittim is acacia. Acacia wood was common in the Sinai wilderness, known for its hardness and resistance to decay and insect infestation.
  • Significance: Its practical qualities made it suitable for sacred objects intended for portability and durability. Symbolically, it points to the divine wisdom in using readily available, robust materials for the covenant's instruments, suggesting God's provision even in the wilderness.

Words-group analysis:

• "two tablets of stone like the first": This phrase highlights God's grace and consistency. Despite Israel's rebellion at the golden calf, God commanded the re-creation of the Law, identical to the original. It signifies restoration and a renewed opportunity for the people to obey. The breaking of the first tablets symbolized the broken covenant; the making of new ones signifies divine mercy and covenant renewal.
• "and I made an ark of acacia wood": This emphasizes Moses' initiative in safeguarding the newly inscribed Law. While Bezalel would later construct the official Ark of the Covenant, Moses' immediate construction of this simple ark demonstrates the urgent priority placed on preserving and housing the Word of God. The material choice reflects practicality and God's use of simple means for sacred purposes. It sets the stage for the dwelling of God's presence among His people.

Deuteronomy 10 3 Bonus section

The "ark of acacia wood" Moses made in Deuteronomy 10:3 is distinct from the Ark of the Covenant constructed later by Bezalel and described in Exodus 25 and 37. Scholars often identify Moses' ark here as a simpler, temporary receptacle, hastily built by divine instruction to safely house the replacement tablets until the more elaborate and sacred Ark of the Covenant could be properly constructed under Bezalel's skilled craftsmanship. This temporary ark demonstrates God's immediate concern for His Word and covenant. It speaks to divine provision for safeguarding His law even in a state of crisis and wilderness. The distinction highlights Moses' unique role as the first, foundational mediator of the covenant and emphasizes that even provisional measures enacted in obedience can carry sacred weight and fulfill divine purpose until the more permanent arrangements are put in place.

Deuteronomy 10 3 Commentary

Deuteronomy 10:3 marks a crucial moment in Israel's wilderness journey and the unfolding of the Mosaic Covenant. After the devastating apostasy of the golden calf, where the first set of divinely inscribed tablets was shattered by Moses in righteous anger, this verse testifies to God's profound grace and readiness to restore. Instead of abandoning His wayward people, God commanded the cutting of new stone tablets, indicating the enduring nature of His moral and judicial law. The repetition "like the first" emphasizes that God's standards and commands do not change, even when humanity fails. Moses' immediate and obedient act of crafting both the tablets and the acacia wood ark (a temporary, functional container for these new sacred stones) showcases faithful mediation. This small ark, predating Bezalel's grand Ark of the Covenant, underlines the immediate necessity of protecting God's revealed Word, making it ready to be placed in the holy Ark, symbolizing God's presence. It is a powerful reminder that God's grace often precedes and enables true obedience, offering a path to restoration even after severe transgression, contingent upon a repentant heart. This incident anticipates God's faithfulness in the New Covenant, where the law is not discarded but internalized through Christ's sacrifice and the Spirit's work.