And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
Moses turned, and went down from the mount. The plain Er-Rabeh is not visible from the top of Jebel Musa, nor can the mount be descended on the side toward that valley; hence, Moses and his companion, who on duty had patiently waited his return in the hollow of the mountain's brow, heard the shouting sometime before they actually saw the camp.
The two tables of the testimony were in his hand - (see the note at Exodus 24:12; Exodus 31:18.)
The tables were written on both their sides. The Jewish doctors, who say that it was done with a sapphire from the throne of God (Ainsworth), allege that the Ten commandments were written in such a manner that not one single letter more could have a place there. The material would of course be hard blocks of red granite from the mountain; but the size and form are not described.