Exodus 34

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables 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 be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top…” Naming Sinai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, cloud, descended. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD , The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…” Naming Keeping keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the…” 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.

“Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and…” Naming Amorite and Canaanite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a…” 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.

“But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice…” 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.

“And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons…” The line’s distinctive content terms include daughters, gods, sons. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include feast, firstfruits, harvest. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD , the God of Israel.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with…” 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.

“And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote…” 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.

“And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to…” Naming Aaron and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with…” Naming Moses and Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with…” Naming Israel and Sinai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his…” Naming Moses and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.