God's Response to Moses' Intercession: 10:1–5 The outcome of Moses’ intercession in Chapter 9 is made clear by the report of the renewed covenant in 10:1–5 and of the resumed journey in 10:6–11. The main focus of verses 1–5 is on the rewriting of the Ten Commandments and the storage of the two tablets in the ark as the tangible sign of a renewed covenant. Verse 5 is like calm after the storm of God’s anger is averted by Moses’ intercession. Having the commandments in the ark in the midst of the people was symbolic of the “nearness” of God again. Things can now move forward, away from the brink of God’s threatened destruction.

With the narrative of Exodus 34 again in the background, the recollection of events is summary and general rather than sequentially precise. For instance, there is no …