The big picture
Deuteronomy 10 opens in verse 1 with “At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “And the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go…”, and closes in verse 22 with “Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, tables, first, mount, time. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Deuteronomy · King James Version · 22Deuteronomy 10:1-8
1–8: At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like…
Deuteronomy 10:1–8 opens with “At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come…” and reaches “At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD …” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 10 develops its own movement around LORD, tables, first, mount, time, with particular weight carried by LORD, tables, first.
Context that brings the passage to life
“At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Deuteronomy 10:1-8
King James Version1At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
2And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.
3And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.
4And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.
5And 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.
6And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead.
7From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.
8At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD , to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Deuteronomy 10:9-16
9–16: Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD…
Deuteronomy 10:9–16 opens with “Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance…” and reaches “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 10 develops its own movement around LORD, tables, first, mount, time, with particular weight carried by LORD, fathers, forty.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
Deuteronomy 10:9-16
King James Version9Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.
10And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.
11And the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.
12And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
13To keep the commandments of the LORD , and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
14Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
15Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deuteronomy 10:17-22
17–22: For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a…
Deuteronomy 10:17–22 opens with “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible…” and reaches “Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 10 develops its own movement around LORD, tables, first, mount, time, with particular weight carried by LORD, Egypt, persons.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Deuteronomy 10:17-22
King James Version17For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
18He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
19Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
20Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
21He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
22Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Deuteronomy 10:1 begins with “At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.”
Where the chapter turns
Deuteronomy 10:13 forms a natural hinge: “To keep the commandments of the LORD , and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?”
The final note
Deuteronomy 10:22 leaves the reader with “Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, tables, first, mount, time, fathers help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.