Deuteronomy 10:5
Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark that I had made. And there they are, as the LORD commanded me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "as the LORD commanded me" is easy to overlook, but it anchors this moment of placing the law into the ark as an act of obedience, not just Moses' personal initiative, highlighting that the law's preservation was God's divine instruction from the start. This emphasizes that the ark wasn't just a container but a sacred vessel divinely designated for upholding God's covenant, ensuring its continued presence and significance.
Just after receiving the stone tablets a second time, Moses descended the mountain and placed them inside the specially constructed ark. This act, he emphasizes, was precisely as God commanded, underscoring the solemnity and divine instruction behind this sacred vessel and its precious contents. The ark, with the tablets within, would serve as a tangible reminder of God's covenant with Israel, remaining there as a testament to His faithfulness.
Moses built a special container for the stone tablets. But was it his own idea, or something else?
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the stone tablets, he followed God's specific instructions.
God's Blueprint
God didn't just give Moses the Ten Commandments; He also commanded Moses to build an Ark. This wasn't a random act of craftsmanship but a divine mandate. The Ark was to be a sacred container, a 'house' for the very words of God.
Obedience in Action
'And there they are, as the LORD commanded me.' This phrase highlights Moses' faithfulness. He didn't just receive the tablets; he meticulously followed God's instructions for their preservation and placement. The Ark symbolized that God's Law was central and precious to His people.
Moses states the tablets 'are there,' but when exactly? And for how long?
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The phrase 'and there they are' points to the lasting significance and physical presence of the Ark and the tablets it contained.
A Testimony Through Time
While Moses descended the mountain and placed the tablets in the Ark he had made (or caused to be made), the statement 'and there they are' likely refers to their continued existence even as Moses recounts these events later. This emphasizes the enduring nature of God's covenant and His law.
More Than Just Stone
The Ark wasn't just a box; it became a focal point of Israel's worship and a symbol of God's presence among His people. Its eventual placement in the Temple, as mentioned in later books, shows that this was a foundational element of Israel's covenant relationship with God.
This passage directly parallels the action in Deuteronomy, stating that Moses 'put the testimony into the ark' which God commanded him to make, highlighting the obedience to divine instruction in housing the law.
1 Kings 8:9This verse confirms the enduring presence of the tablets within the ark, showing that even centuries later, the ark containing God's commands remained a central, sacred object in the temple.
Hebrews 9:4This New Testament passage describes the ark's contents, specifically mentioning the golden pot of manna and Aaron's staff alongside the tablets of the covenant, illustrating the ark's significance as a vessel of God's history and law.
Jeremiah 3:16In a future context, Jeremiah prophesies a time when the ark will no longer be made or remembered, suggesting a transition where God's law and presence will be internalized rather than contained in a physical object.
gillDeuteronomy 10:5: "And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me."
And I turned myself,.... From the Lord, out of whose hands he had received the tables: and came down from the mount; with the two tables in his hand as before, one in one hand, and the other in the other hand: and put the tables in the ark which I had made; or ordered to be made: and there they be, as the Lord commanded me; there they…
ellicottDeuteronomy 10:5: "And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me."
(5) I . . . put the tables in the ark which I (had) made; and there they be. —Or, and they were there, or they continued there. According to the narrative in Exodus, the ark in which the tables ultimately remained was made afterwards. The English reader must not be misled by the word “had” in “I had made.” There is no pluperfect in He…
The phrase "as the LORD commanded me" is easy to overlook, but it anchors this moment of placing the law into the ark as an act of obedience, not just Moses' personal initiative, highlighting that the law's preservation was God's divine instruction from the start. This emphasizes that the ark wasn't just a container but a sacred vessel divinely designated for upholding God's covenant, ensuring its continued presence and significance.
Just after receiving the stone tablets a second time, Moses descended the mountain and placed them inside the specially constructed ark. This act, he emphasizes, was precisely as God commanded, underscoring the solemnity and divine instruction behind this sacred vessel and its precious contents. The ark, with the tablets within, would serve as a tangible reminder of God's covenant with Israel, remaining there as a testament to His faithfulness.
Just after receiving the stone tablets a second time, Moses descended the mountain and placed them inside the specially constructed ark. This act, he emphasizes, was precisely as God commanded, underscoring the solemnity and divine instruction behind this sacred vessel and its precious contents. The ark, with the tablets within, would serve as a tangible reminder of God's covenant with Israel, remaining there as a testament to His faithfulness.
"Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark that I had made. And there they are, as the LORD commanded me.”" — The phrase "as the LORD commanded me" is easy to overlook, but it anchors this moment of placing the law into the ark as an act of obedience, not just Moses' personal initiative, highlighting that th…
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