New Stone Tablets
The LORD orders new tablets and summons Moses back up Sinai under strict separation from all others. Moses obeys at once, rising early and carrying the tablets the LORD has required.
T1hen the LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the originals, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2Be ready in the morning, and come up on Mount Sinai to present yourself before Me on the mountaintop. 3No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain — not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.” 4So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals. He rose early in the morning, and taking the two stone tablets in his hands, he went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him.
The LORD descends in the cloud, stands with Moses, and proclaims His own name. His words hold together compassion, patience, steadfast love, forgiveness, and a justice that does not clear guilt.
5And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD. 6Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: 7maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations,
Moses bows at once in worship and turns the revelation into intercession. He asks the LORD to go with this stubborn people, forgive their sin, and take them as His inheritance.
8Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped. 9“O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”