Deuteronomy 9:10 - Divine words on stone tablets

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Hebrew Text

וַיִּתֵּן יְהוָה אֵלַי אֶת־שְׁנֵי לוּחֹת הָאֲבָנִים כְּתֻבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים וַעֲלֵיהֶם כְּכָל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם בָּהָר מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ בְּיוֹם הַקָּהָל׃

English Translation

and the Lord delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words which the Lord spoke with you in the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.

Transliteration

Vayiten Adonai elai et-shnei luchot ha'avanim ktuvim be'etzba Elohim va'aleihem kechol-hadevarim asher diber Adonai imachem bahar mitoch ha'esh beyom hakaha.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיִּתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י אֶת־שְׁנֵי֙ לוּחֹ֣ת הָֽאֲבָנִ֔ים כְּתֻבִ֖ים בְּאֶצְבַּ֣ע אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַעֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כְּֽכׇל־הַדְּבָרִ֡ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה עִמָּכֶ֥ם בָּהָ֛ר מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵ֖שׁ בְּי֥וֹם הַקָּהָֽל׃

Parasha Commentary

The Divine Origin of the Tablets

The verse (Devarim 9:10) emphasizes the supernatural nature of the Luchot (tablets) by stating they were "written with the finger of God". Rashi explains that this phrase signifies the tablets were entirely a divine creation - both the stone and the engraving were made by Hashem Himself, unlike human writing which is merely applied to a pre-existing surface. The Ramban adds that this demonstrates the eternal nature of the Torah's divine authority.

The Contents of the Tablets

The text states the tablets contained "all the words which the Lord spoke with you in the mountain". The Talmud (Makot 24a) explains this refers to the complete Torah, not just the Ten Commandments. The Mechilta teaches that all 613 mitzvot were somehow contained within the Ten Commandments, which served as general principles encompassing the entire Torah.

The Significance of "Finger of God"

This unusual expression is examined by several commentators:

Ibn Ezra suggests it emphasizes the precision and clarity of the writing
Sforno explains it shows the writing was miraculously legible from both sides of the tablets simultaneously
Malbim notes this phrase appears only regarding the second tablets, teaching that even after the sin of the golden calf, Hashem's relationship with Israel remained intimate

The Day of Assembly

The reference to "the day of the assembly" connects this event to Matan Torah at Har Sinai. The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 29:9) describes how all Israel prophetically saw the divine "finger" writing the tablets, creating an unbreakable national witness to the Torah's divine origin. Rambam (Yesodei HaTorah 8:1) cites this as fundamental to Jewish belief - that our ancestors directly experienced revelation.

The Dual Tablets

The fact that there were two tablets carries deep symbolism:

Rashi explains they parallel the two categories of mitzvot - between man and God, and between man and his fellow
Ramban suggests they represent the dual aspects of Torah - the written and oral traditions
Kli Yakar notes the two tablets maintained balance - one cannot observe mitzvot toward God while neglecting ethical mitzvot toward others

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Shabbat 104a

The verse is referenced in a discussion about the divine origin of the Torah and the tablets given to Moses.

📖 Avodah Zarah 44a

The verse is cited in a discussion about the uniqueness of the divine writing on the tablets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does 'written with the finger of God' mean in Deuteronomy 9:10?
A: The phrase 'written with the finger of God' means that the Ten Commandments were miraculously inscribed by Hashem Himself, showing their divine origin. Rashi explains that this emphasizes the supernatural nature of the tablets, as they were carved and written by God's power alone.

Q: Why were the tablets made of stone according to this verse?
A: The tablets were made of stone to symbolize the permanence and unchangeable nature of the Torah. The Midrash teaches that stone represents durability, showing that God's commandments are eternal and not subject to alteration.

Q: What is the significance of the 'day of the assembly' mentioned in Deuteronomy 9:10?
A: The 'day of the assembly' refers to the day the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, when all of Israel gathered to receive it. The Talmud (Shabbat 88a) describes this as the most important moment in Jewish history, when we entered into our covenant with Hashem.

Q: Why does the verse mention that the words were from 'the midst of the fire'?
A: The fire represents both God's presence (as seen in the burning bush) and the purifying nature of Torah. Rambam explains that the fire symbolizes how Torah study burns away impurities and elevates the soul, just as fire refines metal.

Q: What lesson can we learn today from the giving of the tablets in this verse?
A: This teaches us that Torah comes directly from Hashem and requires our complete acceptance. Just as the entire nation stood together at Sinai, we must approach Torah study with awe and unity. The Chofetz Chaim teaches that this moment reminds us to value every word of Torah as if we ourselves received it at Sinai.