God Renews the Covenant with Moses

God told Moses to cut two new stone tablets like the first ones. In the morning, Moses went up Mount Sinai with the tablets in his hands, just as God had commanded. No one else was to go with him, and even the flocks and herds were not to graze near the mountain.

There the Lord came down in the cloud and proclaimed his own name and character. He showed that he is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, full of loving kindness and truth, forgiving sin, yet not clearing the guilty. Moses quickly bowed down and worshipped. He asked God to go among his people, pardon their sin, and take them as his own inheritance.

Then God renewed his covenant with Israel. He promised to do marvellous works before the people. He warned them not to make a covenant with the people of the land ahead or be drawn into the worship of other gods. They were to tear down places of false worship, make no cast idols, and worship the Lord alone.

God also repeated important commands for Israel's life with him: keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, set apart the firstborn, rest on the seventh day, celebrate the harvest festivals, and appear before the Lord at the appointed times. Moses remained there forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water, and the words of the covenant were written on the tablets.

When Moses came down the mountain carrying the two tablets, he did not know that his face was shining because he had been speaking with the Lord. Aaron and the people were afraid at first, but Moses called them near and gave them God's commands. Afterwards he put a veil over his face. Whenever he went in before the Lord to speak with him, he removed it, and when he came out, the people saw that his face still shone.