And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai. In the sultry climate of Arabia all journeys are entered on betimes in the morning; but God had commanded him to start thus early, and by a faithful attention to the divine instructions he evinced his alacrity and zeal in the service of God.
Took in his hand the two tables of stone. Since he had no attendant to divide the labour of carrying them, it is evident that they must have been light, and of no great dimensions-probably flat slabs of shale or slate, such as abound in the mountainous region of Horeb. An additional proof of their comparatively small size appears in the circumstance of their being deposited in the ark of the most holy place (Exodus 25:10), which itself measured no more than 3 feet 9 inches in length by 2 feet 3 inches in breadth.