Tag: Parashat Ki Tisa

The Torah reading כי תשא Ki Tisa (“when you take”) covers Exodus 30:11–34:35.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 34: Moshe Encounters God While Receiving the Replacement Tablets

Illustration of Moses (Moshe) seated on a mountaintop, wearing white robes with a red shawl, holding a stone tablet while a second tablet rests nearby. A glowing halo surrounds his head, and the background features a dramatic landscape with mountains, trees, and a radiant sky. Overlaid text reads: "Moshe Encounters God While Receiving the Replacement Tablets – Exodus 34." The logo "hallel.info" appears in the bottom right corner.

Some commentators believe God was angry at Moses for breaking those tablets with the 10 Commandments, but I don’t believe so. When Moses broke the tablets, Moses was simply acknowledging the fact that the people had already broken the covenant that just 40 days earlier they had promised to uphold when they said, “What you say, we will do.” So it was appropriate for Moses to break those tablets. But it was also appropriate that the tablets had to be remade.

Moses had a friendship with God that His contemporaries did not have. Paul says that thanks to Yeshua, we can approach God without a veil.

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Discussions Torah

Why Understanding Moses Is Essential to Understanding the New Testament

Illustration depicting the biblical scene of the golden calf from Exodus 32–33: the Israelites gathered in celebration around a golden calf idol, with Aaron nearby. Moses stands in the foreground holding the stone tablets, with Joshua at his side, appearing angry as he confronts the people’s idolatry. In the lower left corner, the title reads "Understanding Moses is Essential to Understanding the New Testament."

Led by Richard Agee, the discussion examines Exodus 32–33 and Israel’s idolatry with the golden calf. Under pressure, Aaron fashions the idol from gold earrings. Moses returns, breaks the tablets in anger, and 3,000 die. God relents after Moses’ intercession, emphasizing humility and obedience.

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Discussions Torah

When God Seems Delayed: Lessons from Moses, the Golden Calf, and a Stiff-Necked People

Horizontal oil painting of Moses and Joshua standing on a rocky hillside overlooking the Israelite camp. Moses, an elderly man with white hair and beard, grips two stone tablets inscribed on both sides, his face tense with anger. A bright, cool light illuminates the tablets and his figure. Below, a golden calf stands atop an altar, glowing in fiery orange light as people dance and celebrate around it, creating a stark contrast between sacred covenant and chaotic idolatry. In the lower right corner, is the title "When God Seems Delayed: Lessons from Moses, the Golden Calf and a Stiff Necked People (Ex. 32-33)" and in the lower left corner, the Hallel Fellowship logo

This is a very heavy section of scripture. God tells Moses about the people’s rebellion and calls on Moses to check on the people. God tells Moses that he is willing to take very drastic measures to punish the people and promote Moses to an even higher level.