Deuteronomy 10 5

Deuteronomy 10:5 kjv

And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

Deuteronomy 10:5 nkjv

Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are, just as the LORD commanded me."

Deuteronomy 10:5 niv

Then I came back down the mountain and put the tablets in the ark I had made, as the LORD commanded me, and they are there now.

Deuteronomy 10:5 esv

Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark that I had made. And there they are, as the LORD commanded me."

Deuteronomy 10:5 nlt

Then I turned and came down the mountain and placed the tablets in the Ark of the Covenant, which I had made, just as the LORD commanded me. And the tablets are still there in the Ark."

Deuteronomy 10 verses

Deuteronomy 10 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 10:5 recounts Moses' act of placing the newly hewn tablets of the Ten Commandments into the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred act performed precisely as the Lord had commanded. This moment signifies the re-establishment of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, underscoring divine instruction, Moses' faithful obedience, and the enduring presence of God's law among His people. It serves as a reminder that despite human failure (referencing the first set of broken tablets), God remains faithful to His covenant and provides a means for His commands to be kept among them.

Deuteronomy 10 5 Context

Deuteronomy 10:5 is part of Moses' second major discourse to Israel, delivered on the plains of Moab as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This chapter specifically recollects events that transpired after the golden calf incident, a profound failure of Israel's early covenant relationship with God. Moses recounts how he interceded for the people, God's command to hew new tablets of stone, and the instruction to build a wooden ark to house them. The verse encapsulates the successful fulfillment of this divine command.

Historically, this verse emphasizes the re-establishment of the covenant at Sinai after its breach by the golden calf idolatry (Exodus 32-34). The first tablets were shattered, symbolizing the broken covenant. God's gracious provision of new tablets and the instruction to place them in the specially constructed ark (distinct from the later, more elaborate Ark of the Covenant described in Exodus 25, though serving the same function in principle here as the receptacle for the testimony) signified God's willingness to renew His relationship with Israel. The narrative underscores God's faithfulness despite Israel's disobedience, reinforcing the sanctity and enduring nature of the Law within the core of their national and religious life, counteracting any contemporary pagan belief systems where divine laws were fickle or idols mutable.

Word Analysis

• And I turned: Hebrew: Va’eshen, וָאֵפֶן. Signifies a physical turning back, a completion of a previous action (descending from the mountain). It also implies a return to the people from the direct presence of God, carrying the divine mandate.
• and came down from the mountain: Hebrew: va'ered min ha'har, וָאֵרֵד מִן הָהָר. Refers specifically to Mount Sinai (also called Horeb), the locus of God's revelation and covenant-making. The descent symbolizes bringing the divine word from God's presence to humanity.
• and put: Hebrew: va'asim, וָאָשִׂם. Simple and direct verb, indicating a decisive, intentional action. It means to place, set, or lay, emphasizing Moses' specific role as the obedient executor of God's command.
• the tablets: Hebrew: haluhot, הַלֻּחֹת. Refers specifically to the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments (the Decalogue), which represent the core of God's covenant with Israel. These were the second set, symbolizing God's gracious restoration after the first were broken.
• in the ark: Hebrew: ba'aron, בָּאָרֹן. The Ark of the Covenant, here specifically the initial ark made by Bezalel or craftsmen under divine instruction for this immediate purpose. It was the holiest artifact in Israel, a symbol of God's presence among His people and the designated container for the divine testimony.
• which I had made: Hebrew: asher asiti, אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי. Moses refers to the ark as one "he had made." This particular ark mentioned in Deut 10:3 was made from acacia wood by Moses as instructed, preceding the more elaborate description in Exodus 25. This shows direct, personal obedience in preparing the receptacle for God's Law.
• and there they are: Hebrew: vayihyu sham, וַיִּהְיוּ שָׁם. Emphasizes the permanence and continued presence of the tablets within the Ark. This highlights the enduring nature of God's covenant and His commands, continuously accessible to His people.
• as the Lord commanded me: Hebrew: ka'asher tzivani YHWH, כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּנִי יְהוָה. This phrase is a common refrain throughout Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch, emphasizing perfect obedience to divine instructions. It highlights Moses' role as a faithful mediator and underscores the absolute authority and perfect will of God. This clause stresses that every detail, from cutting the stone to placing it, was under divine decree.

Word-groups Analysis:

• "And I turned and came down from the mountain": Signifies the completion of Moses' divine encounter on Sinai and his return to resume his mediatory role among the Israelites, bringing down the very visible sign of God's restored covenant.
• "and put the tablets in the ark which I had made": This entire phrase depicts the act of depositing God's Law into its divinely designated repository. It underscores the sanctity of the tablets and the Ark as essential elements for the covenant's physical presence among the Israelites. The "ark which I had made" in this specific Deuteronomic context refers to the initial, more expedient ark Moses made after God instructed him (Deut 10:3), prior to the more detailed craftsmanship of the full Ark described in Exodus.
• "and there they are, as the Lord commanded me": This powerful concluding statement assures the listeners of the continued presence and availability of God's Law. "As the Lord commanded me" functions as a certification of truth and faithfulness, affirming Moses' perfect obedience to the divine will in every detail, providing Israel with a stable, authoritative source of their covenant obligations. It reflects the crucial Deuteronomic emphasis on doing "all that the Lord commanded."

Deuteronomy 10 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 10:5 concisely records a pivotal moment in Israel's covenant history: the restoration of God's law after the shattering failure of the golden calf. Moses, serving as the faithful mediator, performs the precise command of God by placing the newly inscribed tablets, embodying the Ten Commandments, into the sacred ark that he himself constructed. This act isn't just procedural; it signifies God's incredible grace and unwavering commitment to His covenant with a deeply flawed people. Despite their rebellion, God provided a way for His Law, representing His character and will, to dwell visibly among them. The enduring presence of the tablets "in the ark" underscored that God's covenant was not merely a historical event but a living, present reality guiding Israel. Moses' perfect adherence to "as the Lord commanded me" also sets an example for Israel, reminding them that their success and blessedness depend on similar faithfulness to every divine instruction. The verse encapsulates themes of divine initiative, covenant renewal, human responsibility, and the abiding nature of God's holy word.

Bonus Section

• Two Arks Debate: Scholars often note the apparent discrepancy or clarification between the "ark which I had made" in Deut 10:3-5 and the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's Ark in Exodus 25, which involved craftsmen like Bezalel. Many interpret the Deuteronomic account as referring to an immediate, functional ark Moses was to make ad hoc for the tablets' interim storage upon their renewal, emphasizing Moses' direct and swift obedience, distinct from the grand, elaborate Ark of the Tabernacle and its full furnishings, which came later or in a separate building phase. However, a significant view is that Moses' making it means "Moses supervised its making by commanded individuals" (like Bezalel, etc), consistent with Exod 25, 35-39; thereby maintaining that it is one and the same ark. The final statement of 1 Kings 8:9 ("nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there") supports the enduring presence of these specific tablets.
• The Ark as Testimony: The Ark is also frequently referred to as the "Ark of the Testimony" (Exod 25:22). This highlights its primary function: to house the two tablets, which were the "testimony" or witness to God's covenant and commandments. The placement within the Ark underscored their inviolable sanctity and foundational importance to Israel's identity.
• A Polemic against Human-made Laws: The emphasis that Moses acted "as the Lord commanded me" is implicitly a polemic against the arbitrary laws or edicts of human rulers or the changing whims of pagan deities. It firmly establishes the divine origin and immutable nature of Israel's Law, directly revealed by God, in contrast to any system devised by humanity.