And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
Hew thee two tables of stone. God having been reconciled to repentant Israel through the earnest intercession, the successful mediation of Moses, means were to be taken for the restoration of the broken covenant. Intimation was given, however, in a most intelligible and expressive manner, that the favour was to be restored with some memento of the rupture; for at the former time God Himself had provided the materials, as well as written upon them. Now Moses was to prepare the stone tables, and God was only to retrace the characters originally inscribed for the use and guidance of the people.