Deuteronomy 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.
Original Language Analysis
וָאֵ֗פֶן
And I turned
H6437
וָאֵ֗פֶן
And I turned
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
1 of 15
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
וָֽאֵרֵד֙
myself and came down
H3381
וָֽאֵרֵד֙
myself and came down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
2 of 15
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
3 of 15
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָהָ֔ר
from the mount
H2022
הָהָ֔ר
from the mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
4 of 15
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וָֽאָשִׂם֙
and put
H7760
וָֽאָשִׂם֙
and put
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
5 of 15
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַלֻּחֹ֔ת
the tables
H3871
הַלֻּחֹ֔ת
the tables
Strong's:
H3871
Word #:
7 of 15
probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשִׂ֑יתִי
which I had made
H6213
עָשִׂ֑יתִי
which I had made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
10 of 15
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וַיִּ֣הְיוּ
H1961
וַיִּ֣הְיוּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
11 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
שָׁ֔ם
H8033
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Exodus 34:29And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.Exodus 40:20And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
Historical Context
The ark remained with Israel throughout their wilderness wandering and conquest of Canaan. It was eventually placed in Solomon's temple, where it resided in the Most Holy Place until the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
By the time of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 3:16), the ark had been lost, but God promised a future time when it would not be needed because He would write His law directly on human hearts.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Moses' careful preservation of the law tablets teach about stewarding God's word?
- How does the ark serve as type of Christ who perfectly contains and fulfills the law?
- Why was it important that the tablets remained accessible to Israel throughout their history?
- What is the significance of exact obedience in handling divine revelation?
- How does the New Covenant promise of law written on hearts improve upon the tablets in the ark?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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. Moses' careful obedience preserves God's word for future generations. The ark safeguards the tablets, ensuring the law remains accessible to Israel throughout their history.
The phrase there they be indicates the tablets remained in the ark at the time of Moses' speech. This eyewitness testimony confirms the continued presence of God's written covenant among His people. The physical tablets served as tangible evidence of God's covenant commitment.
Moses' statement as the LORD commanded me emphasizes exact compliance with divine instruction. Faithful servants handle God's word with utmost care, neither adding to nor diminishing from what He has spoken. This models proper stewardship of divine revelation.
Reformed theology sees in the ark a type of Christ, who perfectly embodies and preserves God's law. Just as the ark contained the tablets, Christ internalized the law perfectly, fulfilling every requirement on behalf of His people.