Topical Encyclopedia The "Table of Testimony" refers to the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, which were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. These tablets are central to the covenant between God and the Israelites, serving as a divine testimony to the laws that God established for His people.The First Set of Tablets Initially, God provided Moses with the first set of stone tablets during his forty-day stay on Mount Sinai. These tablets were inscribed by the finger of God and contained the Ten Commandments, which are foundational to the moral and spiritual life of the Israelites. However, upon descending from the mountain, Moses witnessed the Israelites worshiping a golden calf, an act of idolatry that violated the very commandments he carried. In his righteous anger, Moses shattered the tablets at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 32:19). The Second Set of Tablets After the incident of the golden calf, God instructed Moses to prepare a second set of stone tablets. In Exodus 34:1 , the Lord commands, "Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke." This directive underscores God's willingness to renew His covenant with the Israelites despite their transgressions. Moses ascended Mount Sinai once more, carrying the new tablets he had chiseled. During this encounter, God proclaimed His name and attributes, emphasizing His mercy, grace, and justice (Exodus 34:6-7). God then inscribed the Ten Commandments onto the second set of tablets, reaffirming the covenant with His people (Exodus 34:28). Significance of the Second Set The second set of tablets symbolizes God's enduring commitment to His covenant and His readiness to forgive and restore His people. It serves as a testament to God's patience and the importance of obedience to His laws. The tablets were placed in the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that represented God's presence among the Israelites and accompanied them throughout their journey in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 10:1-5). The engraving of the second set of tablets highlights the unchanging nature of God's law and His desire for His people to live in accordance with His commandments. The renewal of the tablets also signifies the opportunity for repentance and reconciliation with God, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative. Biblical References · Exodus 32:19 : "As soon as Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger, threw the tablets out of his hands, and shattered them at the base of the mountain." · Exodus 34:1 : "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.'" · Exodus 34:28 : "So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments." · Deuteronomy 10:1-5 : "At that time the LORD said to me, 'Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, and come up to Me on the mountain. Also make a wooden ark. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke, and you are to place them in the ark.' So I made an ark of acacia wood and chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals, and I went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. And the LORD wrote on the tablets what had been written previously, the Ten Commandments that He had spoken to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly. And the LORD gave them to me. Then I came back down the mountain and placed the tablets in the ark I had made, as the LORD had commanded me, and there they have remained." Nave's Topical Index Exodus 34:1And the LORD said to Moses, Hew you two tables of stone like to the first: and I will write on these tables the words that were in the first tables, which you brake. Nave's Topical Index Deuteronomy 10:1-4 Library The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire Appendix (G). On the So-Called "Ammonian Sections" and "Eusebian ... The Anglican Reform Appendix (G). The Princesses of the Comneni The Women of the Apostolic Age The Transformation of Rome from a Pagan into a Christian City. The Doctrine of God Sennacherib (705-681 BC ) Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC ) Resources What is the significance of the folded napkin in Christ's tomb after the resurrection? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)? | GotQuestions.org Why is there so much disagreement about holy communion? | GotQuestions.org Table: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Table: A Slab Upon Which Inscriptions Were Made Table: An Article of Furniture Table: An Article of Furniture: Made of Silver Table: of Testimony were Broken Table: of Testimony were Placed in the Ark of the Covenant Table: of Testimony: A Second Set Engraved Table: of Testimony: The Commandments Engraved Upon Related Terms Tax-gatherers (16 Occurrences) Over-against (156 Occurrences) Mephib'osheth (13 Occurrences) |
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