Deuteronomy 10:1-11

God renewed the broken covenant with Israel because of Moses’ intercession, not because Israel deserved it. Moses made the ark (Deuteronomy 10:3) in the sense that he directed Bezalel to make it (cf. Exodus 25:10; Exodus 37:1). "Ark" was a common English word for box, chest, or basket in seventeenth-century England, and most modern English translations still use this old word. Other evidences of God’s grace were His appointment of another high priest when Aaron died (Deuteronomy 10:6) and His provision of water in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 10:7). Moserah (Deuteronomy 10:6; Numbers 33:31) may be another name for Mt. Hor (Numbers 33:38), the district in which Mt. Hor stood, or Moserah may not be a place name at all but a common noun (Heb. mosera, "chastisement") indicating the reason for Aaron’s death rather than the site. [Note: See R. K. Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, p. 511.] God also set apart the tribe of Levi as priests even though the nation had failed in its calling as a kingdom of priests (Deuteronomy 10:8-9). Furthermore He permitted the disobedient people to proceed on to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 10:11). Again the order of events is logical rather than chronological.

Excessive self-reliance (ch. 8) and self-importance (Deuteronomy 9:1 to Deuteronomy 10:11) would erode Israel’s proper concept of God. The people would regard God as less than He was. This is a violation of the third commandment (Deuteronomy 5:11) that aims at keeping man’s view of God’s reputation (name) consistent with His character.