Deuteronomy 10:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

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

Berean Standard Bible:

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

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And I made{H6213} an ark{H727} of shittim{H7848} wood{H6086}, and hewed{H6458} two{H8147} tables{H3871} of stone{H68} like unto the first{H7223}, and went up{H5927} into the mount{H2022}, having the two{H8147} tables{H3871} in mine hand{H3027}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Exodus 34:4

  • And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.

Exodus 25:5

  • And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

Exodus 37:1

  • ¶ And Bezaleel made the ark [of] shittim wood: two cubits and a half [was] the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:

Exodus 37:9

  • And the cherubims spread out [their] wings on high, [and] covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; [even] to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.

Exodus 25:10

  • ¶ And they shall make an ark [of] shittim wood: two cubits and a half [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

Deuteronomy 10:1

  • ¶ At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 10:3

Deuteronomy 10:3 is part of a speech by Moses to the Israelites, recounting the events following the incident of the golden calf. The historical context is the period after the Exodus from Egypt, when the Israelites are encamped at Mount Sinai. Moses is explaining the renewal of the covenant between God and Israel.

**Themes:**

1. **Covenant Renewal:** After the people broke the covenant by worshipping the golden calf, Moses is emphasizing the re-establishment of the covenant with God. The new set of tablets symbolizes a fresh start and God's willingness to continue the relationship with Israel despite their unfaithfulness.

2. **Obedience and Law:** The verse highlights Moses' obedience to God's commandments. He carves new stone tablets to replace the ones he broke in anger when he saw the golden calf, demonstrating adherence to the law and the process of atonement.

3. **Divine Presence:** Moses' ascent up the mountain with the new tablets signifies his role as a mediator between God and the people. It underscores the importance of the ark and the tablets as physical reminders of God's presence and instructions.

4. **Materials and Craftsmanship:** The mention of "shittim wood" (likely acacia wood) points to the use of specific materials and craftsmanship in the construction of sacred objects, which is a recurring theme in the instructions for the Tabernacle.

5. **Repentance and Forgiveness:** The creation of the second set of tablets reflects the themes of repentance and forgiveness. Despite the people's sin, God allows for a second chance, which is a central theme in the Pentateuch.

In summary, Deuteronomy 10:3 encapsulates the themes of covenant renewal, obedience to divine law, the significance of sacred objects, and the motifs of repentance and forgiveness within the context of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  2. Strong's Number: H727
    There are 467 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָרוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼârôwn
    Pronunciation: aw-rone'
    Description: or אָרֹן; from אָרָה (in the sense of gathering); a box; ark, chest, coffin.
  3. Strong's Number: H7848
    There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שִׁטָּה
    Transliteration: shiṭṭâh
    Pronunciation: shit-taw'
    Description: feminine of a derivative (only in the plural שִׁטִּים; meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as שֹׁטֵט; the acacia (from its scourging thorns); shittah, shittim. See also בֵּית הַשִּׁטָּה.
  4. Strong's Number: H6086
    There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵץ
    Transliteration: ʻêts
    Pronunciation: ates
    Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
  5. Strong's Number: H6458
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּסַל
    Transliteration: pâçal
    Pronunciation: paw-sal'
    Description: a primitive root; to carve, whether wood or stone; grave, hew.
  6. Strong's Number: H8147
    There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
    Transliteration: shᵉnayim
    Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
    Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
  7. Strong's Number: H3871
    There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לוּחַ
    Transliteration: lûwach
    Pronunciation: loo'-akh
    Description: or לֻחַ; from a primitive root; probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal; board, plate, table.
  8. Strong's Number: H68
    There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶבֶן
    Transliteration: ʼeben
    Pronunciation: eh'-ben
    Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
  9. Strong's Number: H7223
    There are 174 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רִאשׁוֹן
    Transliteration: riʼshôwn
    Pronunciation: ree-shone'
    Description: or רִאשֹׁן; from רִאשָׁה; first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun); ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past.
  10. Strong's Number: H5927
    There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָלָה
    Transliteration: ʻâlâh
    Pronunciation: aw-law'
    Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
  11. Strong's Number: H2022
    There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הַר
    Transliteration: har
    Pronunciation: har
    Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion.
  12. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.