New Tablets; Ark
Deuteronomy 10:1-11
Deu.10.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בעת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- פסל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- שני: NUM,m,pl,construct
- לוחת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- אבנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כראשנים: PREP+ADJ,m,pl
- ועלה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ההרה: ADJ,f,sg
- ועשית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- ארון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 34:1 (quotation): God's command to Moses to hew two new stone tablets like the first — the closest parallel repetition of the directive in Deut 10:1.
- Exodus 34:4 (verbal): Narrative detail that Moses cut (hewed) two tablets and went up the mountain, mirroring the actions prescribed in Deut 10:1.
- Deuteronomy 9:17 (structural): Immediate narrative antecedent: Moses had broken the first tablets, providing the contextual reason for making two new ones as stated in Deut 10:1.
- Exodus 25:10-22 (thematic): Instructions for constructing the ark (aron) of acacia wood that will house the tablets — Deut 10:1's command to 'make thee an ark of wood' echoes these cultic specifications.
- Exodus 32:15-16 (allusion): Description of the first tablets as God-written and of the tablets' form — explains what is meant by making new tablets 'like the first' in Deut 10:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- At that time the LORD said to me, "Carve for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones, and come up to me on the mountain, and make for yourself an ark of wood."
- At that time the LORD said to me, "Carve for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones, and come up to me on the mountain, and make for yourself an ark of wood."
Deu.10.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואכתב: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- על: PREP
- הלחת: NOUN,m,du,def
- את: PRT,acc
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- הלחת: NOUN,m,du,def
- הראשנים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שברת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ושמתם: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- בארון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 34:27-28 (verbal): God tells Moses to write the words; Moses writes on the tablets — directly parallels 'I wrote on the tablets the words...'. (explicit wording and action.)
- Exodus 34:1-4 (allusion): Command to cut two new stone tablets like the first and ascend — parallels the making/replacement of the first broken tablets mentioned in Deut 10:2.
- Exodus 32:19 (thematic): Moses breaks the tablets on seeing the golden calf — the origin of the 'first tablets which you broke' referenced in Deut 10:2.
- Deuteronomy 9:17 (verbal): Moses' earlier recounting within Deuteronomy of breaking the tablets — the same incident retold that Deut 10:2 resumes by describing the replacement writing.
- Exodus 40:20 (structural): The placing of the testimony/tablets into the ark — parallels Deut 10:2–5 which records putting the (new) tablets into the ark.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark."
- And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.
Deu.10.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואעש: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- ארון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עצי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- שטים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואפסל: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- שני: NUM,m,pl,construct
- לחת: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אבנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כראשנים: ADV
- ואעל: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- ההרה: ADJ,f,sg
- ושני: CONJ+NUM,card,m,pl
- הלחת: NOUN,m,du,def
- בידי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff1s
Parallels
- Exodus 34:1-4 (quotation): Direct parallel language — God commands Moses to 'cut two tablets like the first'; connects explicitly to Deut 10:3's 'hew out two tablets like the first.'
- Exodus 25:10-11 (verbal): Instruction for the ark: 'an ark of acacia (shittim) wood' — same material and basic object named in Deut 10:3.
- Exodus 37:1-5 (structural): Bezalel’s construction of the ark (made of acacia wood and overlaid) parallels Deut’s statement that an ark of shittim wood was made, providing a complementary craft description.
- Exodus 32:15-16 (allusion): Earlier tablets of stone written by the finger of God are described here; Deut 10:3's 'like the first' alludes to these original tablets and the episode of their replacement.
- 1 Kings 8:9 (thematic): Notes that nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone — thematically linking the tablets mentioned in Deut 10:3 with the ark’s contents in Israel’s cultic memory.
Alternative generated candidates
- So I made an ark of acacia wood, and I hewed two tablets of stone like the first; and I went up the mountain, and the two tablets were in my hand.
- So I made an ark of acacia wood, and I carved two tablets of stone like the first; then I went up the mountain, and the two tablets were in my hand.
Deu.10.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויכתב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- הלחת: NOUN,m,du,def
- כמכתב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הראשון: ADJ,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- עשרת: NUM,card,ten,cons
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אליכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- מתוך: PREP
- האש: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ביום: PREP
- הקהל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויתנם: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,obj:3mp
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 34:1 (structural): Commands Moses to cut two tablets like the first — parallels Deut 10:4's phrase 'as before' (כמכתב הראשון) and the replacement/renewal of the tablets.
- Exodus 34:28 (verbal): States that Moses wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments — language closely parallels Deut 10:4's report that the Ten Words were written on the tablets.
- Exodus 31:18 (quotation): Reports that the LORD gave Moses two tablets written with the finger of God — echoes Deut 10:4's emphasis on divine authorship and delivery of the tablets to Moses.
- Deuteronomy 5:22 (verbal): A Deuteronomic retelling that the words were spoken on the mountain and written on two tablets and delivered to Moses — essentially the same account and wording as Deut 10:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he wrote on the tablets, as the first writing, the ten words that the LORD spoke to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me.
- He wrote on the tablets, as the first writing, the ten words that the LORD spoke to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me.
Deu.10.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואפן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- וארד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואשם: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הלחת: NOUN,m,du,def
- בארון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- שם: ADV
- כאשר: CONJ
- צוני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 10:1-4 (structural): Immediate context recounts Moses' carving of new tablets and placing them in the ark — same narrative episode continued in 10:5.
- Exodus 34:4-5 (verbal): Parallel narrative of Moses ascending Sinai, making new tablets, and coming down with the tablets in his hand (repetition of the event).
- Exodus 40:20 (verbal): Account of placing the testimony/tablets into the ark in the tabernacle — same action described in Deut 10:5.
- Exodus 25:16 (allusion): Divine instruction to put the testimony into the ark; Deut 10:5 depicts the fulfillment of this command.
- 1 Kings 8:9 (thematic): Later temple tradition stating that nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of the covenant — reflects the enduring significance of the tablets placed in the ark.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and I put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are, as the LORD commanded me.
- Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and I put the tablets in the ark that I had made; and they are there, as the LORD commanded me.
Deu.10.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נסעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- מבארת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יעקן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מוסרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שם: ADV
- מת: ADJ,m,sg
- אהרן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויקבר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- ויכהן: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אלעזר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- תחתיו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 20:22-29 (quotation): Full narrative of Aaron's being taken up to Mount Hor, his death and burial there, and Eleazar succeeding him as priest—same event recounted in more detail.
- Numbers 33:38 (quotation): Summary listing of the stages of Israel's journey that explicitly states Aaron died on Mount Hor and was buried there, parallel to Deut.10:6's notice of his death and burial.
- Exodus 6:23 (verbal): Identifies Eleazar as a son of Aaron (and lists Aaron's wife Elisheba), providing background for the statement that Eleazar succeeded his father as priest.
- 1 Chronicles 6:3-4 (Hebrew 6:4-5) (thematic): Priestly genealogy tracing descent from Aaron through Eleazar and his descendants, thematically linked to Eleazar's assumption of the priesthood after Aaron's death.
Alternative generated candidates
- The people of Israel journeyed from Beeroth of the sons of Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place.
- The Israelites journeyed from Beeroth of the sons of Jaakan to Moserah; there Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place.
Deu.10.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- משם: PREP
- נסעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הגדגדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- הגדגדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- יטבתה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נחלי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- מים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 33:7-11 (verbal): Numbers 33 gives a catalogue of Israel’s stations in the wilderness (an itinerary) that largely corresponds to Deut 10:7’s sequence of places — a direct, verbal parallel listing the same or similar camp sites.
- Exodus 15:23-27 (thematic): After the Red Sea crossing Israel encounters Marah and then Elim, a place of springs and palms; thematically parallels Deut 10:7’s mention of a ‘land of brooks’ as places where water and wells are found during the journey.
- Deuteronomy 1:19-46 (structural): Deut 1 contains Moses’ extended retelling of Israel’s travels from Horeb toward Canaan (including stations, events, and refusals) and functions as the larger narrative framework of which Deut 10:7’s itinerary is a part.
- Deuteronomy 8:2-4 (thematic): These verses reflect on the forty years in the wilderness and God’s provision (food, water, testing) while leading Israel through various places — thematically connected to Deut 10:7’s portrayal of the journey and arrival at watered places.
Alternative generated candidates
- From there they set out to Gidgadah, and from Gidgadah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.
- From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of streams of water.
Deu.10.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בעת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- הבדיל: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- שבט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הלוי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לשאת: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- ארון: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- ברית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לעמד: VERB,qal,inf
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לשרתו: VERB,qal,inf,3,m,sg
- ולברך: VERB,qal,inf
- בשמו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 3:6-9 (verbal): Describes the Levites being set apart to serve Aaron and to perform the service of the tabernacle — language and function closely parallel to Deut 10:8’s appointment to minister before the LORD.
- Numbers 1:47-53 (structural): Records the command that the Levites alone carry and attend to the tabernacle and its vessels, paralleling Deut 10:8’s statement that the tribe was separated to bear the ark and minister.
- Numbers 8:24-26 (thematic): Treats the consecration and service of the Levites (age of service, set-apart role), echoing Deut 10:8’s theme of the Levites’ distinct priestly/service status.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4 (verbal): Specifically appoints Levites to minister before the ark, to invoke, give thanks and praise the LORD — closely matching Deut 10:8’s language about ministering and blessing in God's name.
- Exodus 32:26-29 (allusion): After the golden calf incident the Levites are distinguished by Moses and set apart for service to the LORD — an origin motif that underlies Deut 10:8’s statement that the LORD 'separated' the tribe.
Alternative generated candidates
- At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
- At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to him and to bless in his name to this day.
Deu.10.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ללוי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חלק: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ונחלה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- נחלתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs,suff:3,m
- כאשר: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 18:20 (verbal): God's direct statement that the Levites/priests have no inheritance among the Israelites because the LORD himself is their portion—near verbal parallel to Deut 10:9.
- Deuteronomy 18:1 (verbal): A close repetition within Deuteronomy that the Levitical priests have no portion or inheritance among their brethren, and that the LORD is their inheritance.
- Joshua 13:14 (allusion): Statement that the tribe of Levi received no territorial inheritance, since the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance—an allusive restatement in Joshua's account of land allotment.
- Psalm 16:5 (thematic): Uses the language of God as 'portion'/'inheritance' (The LORD is my portion), thematically echoing the theological motif that God himself is the Levites' inheritance.
- 1 Chronicles 6:63 (structural): In the chronicler's presentation the Levites receive cities and duties rather than a tribal territorial inheritance, reflecting the same structural outcome stated in Deut 10:9 that they have no portion among their brothers.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore the Levites have no portion or inheritance with their brothers; the LORD himself is their inheritance, as the LORD your God spoke to them.
- Therefore the Levites have no portion or inheritance with their brothers; the LORD himself is their inheritance, as the LORD your God told them.
Deu.10.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואנכי: PRON,1,sg
- עמדתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- כימים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- הראשנים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- ארבעים: NUM,m,pl
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וארבעים: CONJ+NUM,card,m,pl
- לילה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- גם: ADV
- בפעם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- אבה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- השחיתך: VERB,hif,inf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 24:18 (verbal): Same phrase and event — Moses remained on the mountain 'forty days and forty nights.' Verbal parallel to Deut 10:10's reference to the initial stay on Sinai.
- Exodus 34:28 (verbal): Records Moses' forty-day fast on the mountain and his receiving/writing of the covenant words — echoes Deut 10:10's 'as at the first time, forty days and forty nights.'
- Deuteronomy 9:18-19 (structural): Immediate Deuteronomic parallel recounting Moses' forty-day intercession after Israel's sin and God's decision not to destroy them — essentially the same episode retold and referenced in Deut 10:10.
- Numbers 14:13-20 (thematic): Moses' intercession in response to Israel's rebellion and God's threat to destroy them; thematically parallels Deut 10:10's claim that the LORD 'would not destroy you' after Moses' prayer.
Alternative generated candidates
- I remained on the mountain, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD listened to me at that time also— the LORD would not be willing to destroy you.
- I stayed on the mountain, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD listened to me at that time also — the LORD would not consent to destroy you.
Deu.10.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- קום: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- למסע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- וירשו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נשבעתי: VERB,niphal,perf,1,_,sg
- לאבתם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- לתת: VERB,qal,inf
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Joshua 1:2-3 (verbal): God commands Joshua to 'arise' and lead the people across the Jordan to possess the land God is giving them—parallel instruction and promise to possess the land promised to their fathers.
- Deuteronomy 1:8 (verbal): Earlier Deuteronomic command: 'See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess it'—same covenant promise and directive to enter and take possession.
- Deuteronomy 9:1 (verbal): Another Deuteronomic statement preparing Israel to 'pass over Jordan... to go in to possess' the nations and land God swore to their ancestors, echoing the motive and mission in 10:11.
- Genesis 17:8 (thematic): God's covenant promise to Abraham that the land will be given to his descendants; Deut 10:11 invokes this patriarchal promise ('which I swore to their fathers').
- Exodus 23:20 (thematic): God promises to send an angel/guide to bring Israel into the land and to dispossess its inhabitants—complements the idea of divine guidance and fulfillment of the promise to possess the land.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD said to me, "Arise, go on your journey before the people, that they may enter and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give them."
- And the LORD said to me, "Arise, go on your journey before the people, that they may enter and take possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them."
At that time the LORD said to me, Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me on the mountain, and make for yourself an ark of wood. And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark. So I made an ark of acacia wood; and I carved two tablets of stone like the first, and I went up the mountain, and the two tablets were in my hand. And he wrote on the tablets as the first writing—the ten words that the LORD spoke to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly—and the LORD gave them to me.
Then I turned and came down from the mountain and placed the tablets in the ark that I had made; and they were there, as the LORD commanded me.
The Israelites journeyed from the wells of Bene‑Jaakan to Moserah; there Aaron died and was buried, and Eleazar his son served as priest in his stead.
From there they set out to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.
At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to him and to pronounce blessings in his name to this day.
Therefore the Levites had no portion or inheritance with their brothers; the LORD himself is their inheritance, as the LORD your God promised them. And I remained on the mountain, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD listened to me at that time also— the LORD would not destroy you. And the LORD said to me, Arise, go on your journey before the people, that they may enter and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.