Read Exodus 34 here or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
34:1-26 {p} Moses makes new tablets / Moses sees YHVH’s glory / Commandments renewed (Covenant renewed)
34:27-35 {s} Write these words on the tablets / Moses’ face shone and the veil
The Exo 30:11-34:35 Chiastic Structure:
How can it be that the A pairs relate?
We saw previously that the 1A pair reveals Spirit-filled worship and service, back in Exo 31.
Now for the 2A pair, which includes today’s chapter. Here is its sub structure:
1A) 33:17-23 The plea of Moses: show me YOUR GLORY; {p}
1B) 34:1-4 Moses took up the SECOND SET OF TABLETS;
CENTRAL AXIS) 34:5-26 THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT = KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS; {p}
2B) 34:27-29A Moses brought down the SECOND SET OF TABLETS with the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments;
2A) 34:29b-35 Moses’ face shown with the GLORY OF GOD whom he had seen. {s}
Notice what YHVH says:
And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of YHVH. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.” Exo 34:10
Yeshua echoes this very thing when He says:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Joh 14:12-14
The works Yeshua did were healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding thousands with five loaves and two fishes, walking on water, answering every question with wisdom, even trick questions designed to entrap Him – the things of the Spirit (Act 10:38). The believer in Messiah Yeshua (that is me and you) will do greater works than Yeshua, because He went to His Father. What happened when He went to His Father? He poured out His Spirit on His disciples (Act 1:4-9, Act 2).
Notice that in the structure above, the comment of YHVH about the great works is in the central axis. Following it in the same central axis, is the summary of His commandments which are originally found in Exo 20-23. And what surrounds that? Moses took up the 2nd set of tablets, and he brought down the 2nd set of tablets, inscribed with the words of the Ten Commandments. So you might say the central axis has at its heart, the prophecy of the miraculous works of the Spirit of God, enclosed and bounded by the commandments of God.
1A) 30:11-31:11 Spirit-filled worship and service;
2A) 33:17-34:35 The miraculous works of the Spirit of God, enclosed and bounded by the commandments of God.
Now the A pairs make sense!
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Exo 30:11-34:35, Chiasm preaches the gospel of grace from Torah – Christine Miller
Walking in the Torah and the Spirit – Christine Miller
Exo 34:6-7, On generational curses – Christine Miller
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