THEOSISRoshdestwenski W.G.
God instructed Moses, “Write these words for yourselves: in these words I have established a covenant for you and for Israel.” Moses remained in the presence of the Lord for forty days and forty nights; during this time, he neither consumed bread nor drank water, and he inscribed the words of the covenant on the tablets, which consisted of ten words. Some interpret the title of the Covenant mentioned in both verses as pertaining solely to the Ten Words, especially if we consider the context in verses 10 and 11. The account of Moses’ second journey up Mount Sinai stands out, as it seems to be the only narrative available, and this remarkable fast is not documented elsewhere.
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It is also suggested at the conclusion of verse 28 that the term “tithe-word” on the tablets could refer to Moses, though it is universally acknowledged that it was God Himself who wrote the tithe-word.
To understand this issue thoroughly, a distinction must be made between the general and specific interpretations. The general meaning is evident in these verses, indicating an opinion clearly articulated in the epistle to the Hebrews, specifically Hebrews 9:19, which discusses the proclamation of all commandments according to the law from Moses to all people. A specific understanding of the first interpretation can be explained as follows: the command noted in verse 27 means that Moses would record all the words spoken by God Himself—namely, the laws, statutes, and ordinances that were essential for establishing God's covenant with Israel, which includes the Ten Commandments, in a separate book for continual reference by the Jewish community, as indicated in Exodus 17:14 and in other passages. Furthermore, it is clearly noted in Exodus 24:4 that Moses recorded all the words of the Lord, and these are documented in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Thus, those who misinterpret this discussion by confining the writing to the tenth word alone are mistaken; while God’s covenant words are included, as clearly stated in verse 28, the term ‘covenant’ encompasses the moral law along with a broader discussion of this covenant and other laws, both ceremonial and judicial. Therefore, it is evident that the term “the covenant of God” used in these contexts does not signify the same concept, as shown in verse 10 of this chapter.
The second uncertainty will be addressed through the following reasoning: the forty-day fast must be specifically assigned to Moses' ascent up the mountain, as indicated in Exodus 24:18. Upon Moses' second ascent to Mount Sinai, there is no reference to a continuous forty-day fast. It is important to note that Moses undertook a similar fast a second time, as he mentions in Deuteronomy 9:18: “I prayed before the Lord for the second time, as I did for the first time, and I did not eat bread or drink water for the sake of your sins, which you committed by doing evil in the sight of the Lord,” as demonstrated in Deuteronomy 10:10 concerning the idolatry of the people. Additionally, Moses observed a third fast due to the complaints and disobedience of the people at Kadesh-Barnea, as referenced in Deuteronomy 9:25. Regarding the third conjecture, the portrayal of the Ten Commandments on the tablets is not attributed to Moses himself. For all the acts that Moses performed are distinctly documented and shown to differ from other actions.