Deuteronomy 10
In Deuteronomy 10, Moses recounts the events following the breaking of the first set of tablets and how God instructed him to create new tablets to replace them. The chapter highlights God's merciful nature, His requirements for Israel, and the reaffirmation of the covenant. It also emphasizes the need for Israel to love, fear, and serve God faithfully.
Deuteronomy 10:1-3 (NKJV)
1 "At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make yourself an ark of wood.
2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in the ark.’
3 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."
After Moses broke the original tablets in anger over Israel's idolatry, God instructs him to carve new tablets and make an ark. This act of remaking the tablets symbolizes God’s willingness to restore the covenant with Israel despite their sin. The ark, meant to safeguard the tablets, signifies the importance of God's law and His presence among His people. It demonstrates God's continued commitment to His people, provided they repent and follow His ways.
Deuteronomy 10:4-5 (NKJV)
4 "And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which the Lord had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me.
5 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."
God once again writes the Ten Commandments on the new tablets, reaffirming His covenant with Israel. Moses places the tablets in the ark, fulfilling God’s command. This act reinforces the significance of God's law as the foundation of the relationship between Him and His people. The fact that the commandments are placed in the ark highlights their sacredness and centrality to Israel's identity and worship.
Deuteronomy 10:6-7 (NKJV)
6 "Now the children of Israel journeyed from the wells of Bene Jaakan to Moserah, where Aaron died, and where he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place.
7 From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of rivers of water."
These verses mark the transition in Israel’s journey and leadership. Aaron’s death and Eleazar’s succession as high priest signal a new chapter for the priesthood. The mention of specific locations in the journey highlights God’s guidance and provision throughout their wilderness experience. The land of rivers at Jotbathah suggests God’s abundant provision of resources for His people as they travel toward the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 10:8-9 (NKJV)
8 "At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day.
9 Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised him."
Here, God designates the tribe of Levi for special duties in serving Him, including carrying the ark, ministering before Him, and blessing the people. Unlike the other tribes, the Levites do not receive a territorial inheritance, as their portion is the Lord Himself. This sets them apart for a unique, spiritual role in Israel, representing the close relationship between the Levites and God, and emphasizing that serving Him is their reward.
Deuteronomy 10:10-11 (NKJV)
10 "As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you.
11 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, begin your journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.’"
Moses recounts the time he spent on the mountain with God, pleading for Israel's forgiveness. God mercifully listens to Moses and decides not to destroy the people despite their rebellion. He instructs Moses to lead the Israelites forward into the Promised Land, fulfilling His covenant with their ancestors. This passage demonstrates God’s patience and His faithfulness to His promises, despite the people’s disobedience.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NKJV)
12 "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?"
God lays out His fundamental requirements for His people: reverence, love, wholehearted service, and obedience to His commandments. These instructions are not just rules but are intended for the well-being of Israel. By following them, they would live in harmony with God and each other, aligning their lives with His will. The focus is on a relationship with God that involves love and loyalty, not mere outward ritual.
Deuteronomy 10:14-15 (NKJV)
14 "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.
15 The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day."
These verses emphasize God's sovereignty over the entire universe, yet He chose to establish a special relationship with Israel. Despite His rule over all creation, God delights in Israel's ancestors and their descendants. This divine choice is rooted in God’s love and His covenant, showing His grace and favor toward Israel, not because of their merits but because of His promises to their forefathers.
Deuteronomy 10:16-17 (NKJV)
16 "Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.
17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe."
God calls the Israelites to spiritual transformation—heart circumcision, meaning they must remove stubbornness and fully devote themselves to God. He is the supreme ruler, greater than all other gods or rulers, who exercises justice without favoritism. This divine demand for internal purity and humility reflects the core of God's relationship with His people, requiring sincerity, not just external compliance.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NKJV)
18 "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
God is characterized by His justice and care for the vulnerable, including orphans, widows, and foreigners. He provides for them and expects Israel to reflect this same compassion in their treatment of others. Having been strangers in Egypt themselves, the Israelites are commanded to show empathy and kindness to outsiders. This reinforces the moral imperative for God's people to be just and compassionate.
Deuteronomy 10:20-22 (NKJV)
20 "You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.
21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.
22 Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as the stars of heaven in multitude."
Moses concludes by reminding Israel of their duty to fear, serve, and remain faithful to God. He alone is worthy of praise, having performed great miracles for them. From a small group of seventy people, God has multiplied them into a great nation, fulfilling His promises to Abraham. This serves as a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness and the blessings that come from following Him.