Deuteronomy 18:16 - This is according to all that you desired of Yahweh your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again Yahweh my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”
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What does "Deuteronomy 18:16" mean?
This verse, Deuteronomy 18:16, is a key part of explaining why God promised to send a prophet like Moses. Let's break it down:
"This is according to all that you desired of Yahweh your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly...": This refers back to a specific event that happened at Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai). "The day of the assembly" is when the Israelites gathered at the foot of the mountain after the Exodus. This was when God delivered the Ten Commandments.
"...saying, 'Let me not hear again Yahweh my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.'": This is the crux of the verse. The Israelites, witnessing the overwhelming power and majesty of God (manifested in the thunder, lightning, and fire), were terrified. They begged Moses to act as an intermediary. They couldn't bear to experience God's direct presence again, fearing they would die from the sheer intensity. They asked that Moses speak to God and then relay God's messages to them.
Therefore, the meaning of the verse is:
The people requested at Mount Sinai (Horeb) that they no longer have to directly experience God's voice or visible presence (the fire) because they were afraid of dying. They preferred to receive God's communication through a mediator.
Significance within Deuteronomy 18:
This verse provides the rationale for the promise of a future prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). God, in response to the people's fear, agreed to provide a prophet who would serve as an intermediary, delivering God's word to the people without them having to directly face God's awesome and terrifying presence. This is why, in Deuteronomy 18:17, God says he will do what they asked.
In short, Deuteronomy 18:16 explains the Israelites' request for a mediator due to their fear of God's direct presence, thus laying the groundwork for the promise of a future prophet like Moses.
Deuteronomy 18:16 - This is according to all that you desired of Yahweh your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again Yahweh my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”
What does "Deuteronomy 18:16" mean?
This verse, Deuteronomy 18:16, is a key part of explaining why God promised to send a prophet like Moses. Let's break it down:
"This is according to all that you desired of Yahweh your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly...": This refers back to a specific event that happened at Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai). "The day of the assembly" is when the Israelites gathered at the foot of the mountain after the Exodus. This was when God delivered the Ten Commandments.
"...saying, 'Let me not hear again Yahweh my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.'": This is the crux of the verse. The Israelites, witnessing the overwhelming power and majesty of God (manifested in the thunder, lightning, and fire), were terrified. They begged Moses to act as an intermediary. They couldn't bear to experience God's direct presence again, fearing they would die from the sheer intensity. They asked that Moses speak to God and then relay God's messages to them.
Therefore, the meaning of the verse is:
The people requested at Mount Sinai (Horeb) that they no longer have to directly experience God's voice or visible presence (the fire) because they were afraid of dying. They preferred to receive God's communication through a mediator.
Significance within Deuteronomy 18:
This verse provides the rationale for the promise of a future prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). God, in response to the people's fear, agreed to provide a prophet who would serve as an intermediary, delivering God's word to the people without them having to directly face God's awesome and terrifying presence. This is why, in Deuteronomy 18:17, God says he will do what they asked.
In short, Deuteronomy 18:16 explains the Israelites' request for a mediator due to their fear of God's direct presence, thus laying the groundwork for the promise of a future prophet like Moses.