Deuteronomy 10:5
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This verse subtly highlights that the ark, which housed the very stone tablets of God's law, wasn't a divine creation itself, but one that Moses made or caused to be made. It emphasizes that while God's commands are eternal, our faithful execution and vessels for them are human endeavors, meant to be filled and preserved.
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)
Moses recounts receiving a second set of stone tablets from God after the first were broken. He then describes placing these tablets into the specially constructed Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing that this act followed God's direct command and that the tablets remained there. This moment signifies the renewed covenant and the sacredness of God's law being preserved.
Moses just received the Ten Commandments for a second time. What happens next reveals the lasting significance of God's Word.
After receiving the stone tablets from God, Moses immediately acted. He 'turned and came down from the mountain' and placed the tablets 'in the ark that I had made.' This wasn't just a storage action; it was the formal installation of God's law into the very center of Israel's covenant relationship with Him.
Think of it: the very words God spoke, the foundation of His commands and promises, were housed in a specially constructed vessel. This 'ark' (which means 'box' or 'chest') became the most sacred object among the Israelites, a physical reminder of their commitment to God and His presence among them. Moses' assurance, 'And there they are, as the LORD commanded me,' emphasizes obedience and the enduring nature of God's command to preserve His law.
Why build a special box for stone tablets? It wasn't just about keeping them safe; it was a profound statement about God's relationship with His people.
The Ark of the Covenant was far more than a simple container. It was the physical manifestation of God's dwelling place among the Israelites. When Moses placed the tablets inside, he wasn't just storing laws; he was ensuring that God's covenant presence was enshrined at the heart of Israel's life.
The commentaries suggest that 'there they be' implies the tablets remained in the ark for a long time. This ongoing presence symbolized that God's law was not a forgotten relic but a living testament to His ongoing relationship and commitment to His chosen people. Even when the ark's contents were later described as just the 'testimony' (Exodus 40:20), it still pointed to God's enduring word and presence.
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This passage directly parallels Deuteronomy 10:5, describing Moses putting the testimony (the tablets) into the Ark of the Covenant as the Lord commanded, highlighting the ark's primary purpose as a vessel for God's law.
1 Kings 8:9This verse confirms the enduring presence of the stone tablets within the Ark long after Moses' time, emphasizing the continuity of God's covenant and law through generations, echoing the statement 'there they are, as the LORD commanded me.'
Hebrews 9:4This New Testament passage explains the contents of the Ark, explicitly mentioning the gold altar of incense and the ark covered all around with gold, containing 'the golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant,' underscoring the sacredness and significance of what was placed within it.
Jeremiah 3:16In a prophetic context, Jeremiah foretells a future where the Ark of the Covenant will no longer be remembered or missed, implying a deeper fulfillment of the covenant in a new way that transcends the physical tablets and the ark itself.
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…
This verse subtly highlights that the ark, which housed the very stone tablets of God's law, wasn't a divine creation itself, but one that Moses made or caused to be made. It emphasizes that while God's commands are eternal, our faithful execution and vessels for them are human endeavors, meant to be filled and preserved.
Moses recounts receiving a second set of stone tablets from God after the first were broken. He then describes placing these tablets into the specially constructed Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing that this act followed God's direct command and that the tablets remained there. This moment signifies the renewed covenant and the sacredness of God's law being preserved.
Moses recounts receiving a second set of stone tablets from God after the first were broken. He then describes placing these tablets into the specially constructed Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing that this act followed God's direct command and that the tablets remained there. This moment signifies the renewed covenant and the sacredness of God's law being preserved.
"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.”" — This verse subtly highlights that the ark, which housed the very stone tablets of God's law, wasn't a divine creation itself, but one that Moses made or caused to be made. It emphasizes that whil…
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Last reviewed October 2026
