1tn Or “chest” (so NIV, CEV); NLT “sacred chest”; TEV “wooden box.” This chest was made of acacia wood; it is later known as the ark of the covenant. 2sn The same words. The care with which the replacement copy must be made underscores the importance of verbal precision in relaying the Lord’s commandments. 3sn Acacia wood (Heb “shittim wood”). This is wood from the acacia, the most common timber tree of the Sinai region. Most likely it is the species Acacia raddiana because this has the largest trunk. See F. N. Hepper, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, 63. 4tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 5tn Heb “according to the former writing.” See note on the phrase “the same words” in v. 2. 6tn Heb “ten words.” The “Ten Commandments” are known in Hebrew as the “Ten Words,” which in Greek became the “Decalogue.” 7tn Heb “the Lord.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy. 8tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” earlier in this verse. 9sn Beeroth Bene-Yaaqan. This Hebrew name could be translated “the wells of Bene-Yaaqan” or “the wells of the sons of Yaaqan,” a site whose location cannot be determined (cf. Num 33:31-32; 1 Chr 1:42). 10sn Moserah. Since Aaron in other texts (Num 20:28; 33:38) is said to have died on Mount Hor, this must be the Arabah region in which Hor was located. 11sn Gudgodah. This is probably the same as Haggidgad, which is also associated with Jotbathah (Num 33:33). 12sn Jotbathah. This place, whose Hebrew name can be translated “place of wadis,” is possibly modern Ain Tabah, just north of Eilat, or Tabah, 6.5 mi (11 km) south of Eilat on the west shore of the Gulf of Aqaba. 13sn The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi. This was not the initial commissioning of the tribe of Levi to this ministry (cf. Num 3:11-13; 8:12-26), but with Aaron’s death it seemed appropriate to Moses to reiterate Levi’s responsibilities. There is no reference in the Book of Numbers to this having been done, but the account of Eleazar’s succession to the priesthood there (Num 20:25-28) would provide a setting for this to have occurred. 14sn To formulate blessings. The most famous example of this is the priestly “blessing formula” of Num 6:24-26. 15sn Levi has no allotment or inheritance. As the priestly tribe, Levi would have no land allotment except for forty-eight towns set apart for their use (Num 35:1-8; Josh 21:1-42). But theirs was a far greater inheritance, for the Lord himself was their apportionment, that is, service to him would be their full-time and lifelong privilege (Num 18:20-24; Deut 18:2; Josh 13:33). 16tn That is, among the other Israelite tribes. 17tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 10:4. 18tn Heb “before” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NRSV “at the head of.” 19tn After the imperative these subordinated jussive forms (with prefixed vav) indicate purpose or result. 20tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 15, 22). 21tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on “he” in 10:4. 22tn Heb “to walk in all his ways” (so KJV, NIV, NRSV); NAB “follow his ways exactly”; NLT “to live according to his will.” 23tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on “he” in 10:4. 24tn Heb “heart and soul” or “heart and being”; NCV “with your whole being.” See note on the word “being” in Deut 6:5. 25tn Heb “commanding” (so NASB, NRSV). For stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy, “giving” has been used in the translation. 26tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 10:4. 27tn Heb “take delight to love.” Here again the verb אָהַב (’ahav, “love”), juxtaposed with בָחַר (bakhar, “choose”), is a term in covenant contexts that describes the Lord’s initiative in calling the patriarchal ancestors to be the founders of a people special to him (cf. the note on the word “loved” in Deut 4:37). 28tn The Hebrew text includes “after them,” but it is redundant in English style and has not been included in the translation. 29tn Heb “circumcise the foreskin of” (cf. KJV, ASV, NRSV). Reference to the Abrahamic covenant prompts Moses to recall the sign of that covenant, namely, physical circumcision (Gen 17:9-14). Just as that act signified total covenant obedience, so spiritual circumcision (cleansing of the heart) signifies more internally a commitment to be pliable and obedient to the will of God (cf. Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4; 9:26). 30tn Heb “your neck do not harden again.” See note on the word “stubborn” in Deut 9:6. 31tn Or “who executes justice for” (so NAB, NRSV); NLT “gives justice to.” 32tn Heb “your praise.” The pronoun is subjective and the noun “praise” is used here metonymically for the object of their praise (the Lord). 33tn Or “heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
1tn Or “chest” (so NIV, CEV); NLT “sacred chest”; TEV “wooden box.” This chest was made of acacia wood; it is later known as the ark of the covenant.
2sn The same words. The care with which the replacement copy must be made underscores the importance of verbal precision in relaying the Lord’s commandments.
3sn Acacia wood (Heb “shittim wood”). This is wood from the acacia, the most common timber tree of the Sinai region. Most likely it is the species Acacia raddiana because this has the largest trunk. See F. N. Hepper, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, 63.
4tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5tn Heb “according to the former writing.” See note on the phrase “the same words” in v. 2.
6tn Heb “ten words.” The “Ten Commandments” are known in Hebrew as the “Ten Words,” which in Greek became the “Decalogue.”
7tn Heb “the Lord.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.
8tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” earlier in this verse.
9sn Beeroth Bene-Yaaqan. This Hebrew name could be translated “the wells of Bene-Yaaqan” or “the wells of the sons of Yaaqan,” a site whose location cannot be determined (cf. Num 33:31-32; 1 Chr 1:42).
10sn Moserah. Since Aaron in other texts (Num 20:28; 33:38) is said to have died on Mount Hor, this must be the Arabah region in which Hor was located.
11sn Gudgodah. This is probably the same as Haggidgad, which is also associated with Jotbathah (Num 33:33).
12sn Jotbathah. This place, whose Hebrew name can be translated “place of wadis,” is possibly modern Ain Tabah, just north of Eilat, or Tabah, 6.5 mi (11 km) south of Eilat on the west shore of the Gulf of Aqaba.
13sn The Lord set apart the tribe of Levi. This was not the initial commissioning of the tribe of Levi to this ministry (cf. Num 3:11-13; 8:12-26), but with Aaron’s death it seemed appropriate to Moses to reiterate Levi’s responsibilities. There is no reference in the Book of Numbers to this having been done, but the account of Eleazar’s succession to the priesthood there (Num 20:25-28) would provide a setting for this to have occurred.
14sn To formulate blessings. The most famous example of this is the priestly “blessing formula” of Num 6:24-26.
15sn Levi has no allotment or inheritance. As the priestly tribe, Levi would have no land allotment except for forty-eight towns set apart for their use (Num 35:1-8; Josh 21:1-42). But theirs was a far greater inheritance, for the Lord himself was their apportionment, that is, service to him would be their full-time and lifelong privilege (Num 18:20-24; Deut 18:2; Josh 13:33).
16tn That is, among the other Israelite tribes.
17tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 10:4.
18tn Heb “before” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NRSV “at the head of.”
19tn After the imperative these subordinated jussive forms (with prefixed vav) indicate purpose or result.
20tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 15, 22).
21tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on “he” in 10:4.
22tn Heb “to walk in all his ways” (so KJV, NIV, NRSV); NAB “follow his ways exactly”; NLT “to live according to his will.”
23tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on “he” in 10:4.
24tn Heb “heart and soul” or “heart and being”; NCV “with your whole being.” See note on the word “being” in Deut 6:5.
25tn Heb “commanding” (so NASB, NRSV). For stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy, “giving” has been used in the translation.
26tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 10:4.
27tn Heb “take delight to love.” Here again the verb אָהַב (’ahav, “love”), juxtaposed with בָחַר (bakhar, “choose”), is a term in covenant contexts that describes the Lord’s initiative in calling the patriarchal ancestors to be the founders of a people special to him (cf. the note on the word “loved” in Deut 4:37).
28tn The Hebrew text includes “after them,” but it is redundant in English style and has not been included in the translation.
29tn Heb “circumcise the foreskin of” (cf. KJV, ASV, NRSV). Reference to the Abrahamic covenant prompts Moses to recall the sign of that covenant, namely, physical circumcision (Gen 17:9-14). Just as that act signified total covenant obedience, so spiritual circumcision (cleansing of the heart) signifies more internally a commitment to be pliable and obedient to the will of God (cf. Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4; 9:26).
30tn Heb “your neck do not harden again.” See note on the word “stubborn” in Deut 9:6.
31tn Or “who executes justice for” (so NAB, NRSV); NLT “gives justice to.”
32tn Heb “your praise.” The pronoun is subjective and the noun “praise” is used here metonymically for the object of their praise (the Lord).
33tn Or “heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.