And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.
DEUTERONOMY 9:11KJVWhat does Deuteronomy 9:11 mean?
Deuteronomy 9:11 says that after forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave Moses two stone tablets, which were the tablets of the covenant. This verse marks the moment when Moses received the written terms of God’s agreement with Israel on Mount Sinai.
Moses is speaking to the Israelites, reminding them of the time he spent on the mountain with God. The “two tables of stone” refer to the physical tablets inscribed with the covenant laws, often called the Ten Commandments. This event is a key part of the story where God formally gives His law to His people through Moses.
The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 9:11
- “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God used throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing that it was Israel’s covenant God who gave the law, not a distant or unknown deity.
- “tables” (לוּחַ, luach): This word means “tablet” or “slab,” and it highlights that the covenant was given in a permanent, written form, not just spoken.
- “covenant” (בְּרִית, berit): This word means a binding agreement or treaty. Here, it refers to the special relationship and obligations between God and Israel, set down in writing.
Why Deuteronomy 9:11 matters
- This verse clarifies that the covenant was not just an idea or spoken promise but was physically written down by God and given to Moses, making it official and enduring.
- The mention of “forty days and forty nights” connects this event to other significant periods of testing or preparation in the Bible, showing the seriousness and weight of the moment.
- By recalling this event, Moses sets up the context for what follows: Israel’s failure with the golden calf and the breaking of the first tablets, highlighting both God’s holiness and the people’s need for mercy.