“And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.”
Context: The book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible and continues the historical narrative of the Israelites’ journey from slavery in Egypt to their eventual arrival at Mount Sinai. At Mount Sinai, God established a covenant with the Israelites, which included the giving of the Ten Commandments and various laws and regulations to govern their lives.
Divine Command: “And the LORD said unto Moses.” The verse begins with God speaking directly to Moses. Throughout the book of Exodus, we see Moses acting as the mediator between God and the Israelites, relaying God’s commands to the people.
Instruction to Write: “Write thou these words.” God instructs Moses to write down the words He is about to speak. This is not the first time God has commanded Moses to write things down, as the book of Exodus contains several instances where Moses is told to record specific information (e.g., Exodus 17:14; Exodus 24:4).
Establishing a Covenant: “For after the tenor of these words, I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.” God reaffirms that the words He has spoken constitute a covenant with both Moses and the entire nation of Israel. The covenant is an agreement between God and His people, establishing their relationship and the terms on which they will live as God’s chosen nation.
