Exodus 34:29

Hebrew Bible

29 Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand—when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him. 31 But Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke to them. 32 After this all the Israelites approached, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he would put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out. Then he would come out and tell the Israelites what he had been commanded. 35 When the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with the Lord.

Matthew 17:2

New Testament

1 Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain. 2 And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. 4 So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!”

 Notes and References

"... The Gospel displays a striking Moses typology. It is especially strong in the infancy narrative and in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus sets his word over against things Moses said (5:21-48). Indeed, the Gospel begins by replaying the exodus:

  • Israel's deliverer is born (1:18-25, compare Exodus 2:1-2).
  • A wicked king sits upon the throne (2:1-15; compare Exodus 1:8-14).
  • That king slaughters Jewish infants (2:16; compare Exodus 1:15-22).
  • The hero's years after infancy go unrecounted.
  • He passes through the waters (3:13-17; compare Exodus 14:21-31).
  • He goes into the desert 4:1; compare Exodus 15:22).
  • He stays there for a period of time marked by forty units (4:2; Exodus 16:35).
  • Temptations comes in the form of hunger and idolatry. (4:3-4; Compare Exodus 16:2-8)
  • The deliverer goes up on a mountain (5:1; compare Exodus 19).
  • We learn the commandments. (5-7; compare Exodus 20-23)
..."

Allison, Dale C. "The Embodiment of God's Will" in Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, and Richard B. Hays (eds.) Seeking the Identity of Jesus: A Pilgrimage (pp. 117-132) William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008

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