Topical Encyclopedia The "Table of Testimony" refers to the stone tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were inscribed by the finger of God. These tablets are central to the covenantal relationship between God and the people of Israel, serving as a tangible representation of God's law and His divine will for His chosen people.Biblical Context and Description The account of the Table of Testimony is primarily found in the Book of Exodus. After the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, they encamped at Mount Sinai, where God established His covenant with them. It was here that Moses ascended the mountain to receive the law directly from God. In Exodus 24:12 , the Lord instructs Moses: "Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction." These tablets were to serve as a divine guide for the Israelites, outlining the moral and spiritual principles by which they were to live. The Engraving of the Commandments The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, were engraved on these stone tablets. Exodus 31:18 states, "When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God." This divine act of engraving signifies the permanence and authority of God's law. The Breaking and Renewal of the Tablets The narrative continues with a significant event where Moses, upon descending from the mountain and witnessing the Israelites' idolatry with the golden calf, shatters the original tablets in anger (Exodus 32:19). This act symbolizes the breaking of the covenant due to the people's sin. However, God's mercy and willingness to renew the covenant are demonstrated when He instructs Moses to carve out two new 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 renewal underscores God's enduring commitment to His people despite their transgressions. The Ark of the Covenant The tablets were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that symbolized God's presence among His people. The Ark, along with the tablets, was housed in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, signifying the centrality of God's law in the life of Israel. Theological Significance The Table of Testimony holds profound theological significance. It represents God's direct communication and covenant with humanity, emphasizing the importance of obedience and faithfulness to His commandments. The engraving of the law on stone tablets also prefigures the New Covenant, where God's law would be written on the hearts of believers, as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:33. In summary, the Table of Testimony is a foundational element of biblical history and theology, encapsulating the divine law that governs the relationship between God and His people. Nave's Topical Index Exodus 20:3-17You shall have no other gods before me. Nave's Topical Index Exodus 24:12 Deuteronomy 4:13 Deuteronomy 5:4-22 Deuteronomy 9:10 Hosea 8:12 Library Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Gospel Transcends Law. The Anglican Reform The Doctrine of God The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem: The Old Testament and Comparative Religion The Oration on Holy Baptism. part ii Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ... Memoir of John Bunyan Resources What is the Haggadah / Aggadah? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning and importance of the Last Supper? | GotQuestions.org Is the observance of First Communion biblical? | 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 |
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