Exodus 34:31

Exo 34:31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.

Ver. 31. And Moses called unto them.] Having first vailed his face, as in Exo 34:33.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

31. the rulers in the congregation] See on Exo_16:22.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him,.... Went into the tabernacle to converse with him, to pray unto him, and inquire about any matter of difficulty respecting the people of Israel he was concerned for, which he often did:

he took the vail off until he came out: and so when men are truly converted, and turn to the Lord, the vail of darkness and unbelief is removed, and the true light shines, in which they see things in another light than they did before; and when they come into his presence, they come with hearts opened and unveiled, all things being naked and open to him with whom they have to do; and particularly saints under the Gospel dispensation, with an open face, as in a glass, behold the glory of the Lord; and when they get to heaven, they will then see face to face, and know as they are known, Co2 3:16,

and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded; this respects not the present time of his coming down from the mount, or out of the tabernacle with the law and commands now given, for these he had already declared; but after times, and all such times when he went in to the Lord to inquire of him his mind and will concerning certain things, in which the people wanted information, when, upon his return, he acquainted them with whatsoever the Lord ordered to be done.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Unto him, to the tabernacle, which was still at a distance from the camp, though afterwards, God being reconciled, it was set up in the camp, Exo 40:34.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Moses called unto them. Moses bade them approach no doubt assured them that there was no cause for fear (cf. Luk_24:38, Luk_24:39) and by his manner and familiar voice dispelled their fears and reassured them. Aaron and all the rulers returned unto him. Apparently, in their alarm they had drawn back. Being re-assured, they "returned."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

הנשאים בעדה THE PRINCES IN THE CONGREGATION — is the same as the more usual expression נשיאי העדה, the princes of the congregation.

וידבר משה אלהם AND MOSES SPOKE TO THEM the message of the Almighty. This whole section (i. e. all the verbs in it) denotes frequentative action (thus וידבר means “Moses used to say”, ויקרא meant “He used to call”, נגשו means “they used to come near” etc).

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

VA’YEDABEIR MOSHEH’ (AND MOSES SPOKE) TO THEM. “This whole section denotes a [continuing] present action [thus making the sense of the verbs: ‘and Moses used to speak…’ ‘and they used to come near…’]. 32. AND AFTERWARDS ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME NIGH. After Moses had taught the elders, he would again teach the section or the specific law to the Israelites.” All this is Rashi’s language. But it is not so [that this section describes a continuing occurrence — whenever Moses spoke to Israel]. Rather, Scripture is stating that when all Israel went forth to meet him [upon his descent from the mountain with the second Tablets], they saw the beams of glory streaming from his face, and they were afraid to come nigh him and stepped backwards. Perhaps they thought that the Glory of G-d was there, or that the angels of Him on high were with him, and they feared lest the Eternal break forth upon them. Then Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the princes, who walked before them returned unto him, and Moses spoke to them words of peace, and told them the tidings of the forgiveness of their sin and of the Tablets he brought down. And afterwards when all the children of Israel saw that he was speaking with the princes of the congregation, they all came near to him, and then he commanded them all that the Eternal had spoken with him in Mount Sinai, these being the second Ten Commandments that He gave him, and all that was said to him from the beginning of, Observe thou that which I am commanding thee this day, to the end of the section; for he told them that G-d had commanded him to make a covenant with them after the tenor of these words., Verse 27. Scripture, however, shortened the account and narrated the matter in general terms. Then Scripture says that when Moses had done speaking with them the whole subject mentioned, he put a veil upon his face, for he understood that upon his return [from the mountain] the skin of his face sent forth beams, or perhaps they told it to him. Finally, after having told the account of the events of that day, Scripture states, But when Moses went in before the Eternal etc. It is this part of Scripture that represents the continuing action, meaning that so did Moses conduct himself with them all the days. section (from Verses 31 to 35) represents a frequentative action. According to Ramban this applies only to Verses 34-35.Vayakheil

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.