שמות, פרק ל״ד, פסוק ד׳

Following the devastating loss of the original tablets, a new chapter of forgiveness begins. Moses sets out to prepare replacement stones, a process that marks the start of God fulfilling His promises and revealing His attributes of mercy [אברבנאל]. Moses creates the physical foundation for the new tablets, carefully following the exact details of the divine command [קאסוטו]. He shapes them to perfectly match the original ones [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, this preparation is far more than a simple physical task. By chipping away the rough, outer layers of the stone, Moses strips the material down to a pure, clean essence. This effort elevates the physical rock to a near-spiritual state, making the stones worthy of receiving the divine writing [אלשיך].

Moses wakes at the very break of dawn on the twenty-ninth of Av, setting out before the sun even rises [העמק דבר, חזקוני]. This early morning journey represents a profound spiritual climb. Just as the light of dawn steadily grows brighter, Moses himself becomes increasingly pure and elevated as he ascends to the very peak of the mountain [אלשיך, אבן עזרא הקצר].

The timeline of these events presents an interesting detail, as Moses is described taking the tablets into his hand only after his ascent is mentioned. One perspective views this sequence as a hint to the miraculous nature of the moment. It suggests that only after Moses and the stones reached a state of ultimate purity at the mountain's peak was he able to carry the massive, heavy stones with just a single hand [אלשיך]. Furthermore, this timing points toward a later event on the mountain: when the glory of God passes by, Moses modestly uses these very tablets to shield his face [העמק דבר]. Alternatively, the phrasing can be understood simply as the natural, poetic style of biblical storytelling. Repeating the mention of the two stone tablets at the end of the thought creates a deliberate rhythm, emphasizing their importance as if they were being highlighted anew [אבן עזרא, קאסוטו].