Book of Deuteronomy - Chapter 9 - Verse 17

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the two tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, he was dismayed to find the Israelites worshiping a golden calf. In his anger and frustration, he threw the tablets to the ground, shattering them before the eyes of the people. This act symbolized the breaking of the covenant between God and the Israelites, due to their disobedience and idolatry. It was a dramatic and powerful gesture meant to convey the seriousness of their sin and the consequences of turning away from God. Despite this act, Moses later interceded on behalf of the people, demonstrating God's mercy and willingness to forgive. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of staying faithful to God and following His commandments, as well as the opportunity for repentance and reconciliation even after making mistakes.

The theological interpretation of the verse where Moses breaks the two tablets of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 32:19 signifies a severe judgment against the Israelites for their worship of the golden calf. The breaking of the tablets also symbolizes the breaking of the covenant between God and the people due to their disobedience and idolatry. The act of breaking the tablets in front of the people served as a powerful visual representation of the consequences of their actions. By shattering the tablets in anger, Moses expressed God's righteous indignation at the people's betrayal and the seriousness of their sin.

Through a word study of the term "cast" in the verse, we see that it conveys a sense of forceful rejection or disposal. The action of casting the tablets out of Moses' hands reflects a deliberate and emphatic gesture of rejecting the covenant that had been broken by the people's sin. The breaking of the tablets before their eyes was a dramatic demonstration of the consequences of their actions and a visual representation of the shattered relationship between God and His people. This event serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience and faithfulness in maintaining a covenant relationship with God.