Why does Moses’ face radiate only after receiving the second tablets of the Decalogue? Did Moses really cover his face before speaking to the people? And why does the story of the veil describe a Tent of Meeting that hasn’t even been constructed? A closer look at the story reveals that some biblical authors found Moses’ radiant face problematic.Redaction criticism is always fun. But this essay starts with the assumption that Moses' face becoming "radiant" is the correct interpretation of the passage in Exodus 34. It is a possible interpretation, but there are others. There are many PaleoJudaica posts on the topic, generally under the rubric "Moses' horns," which is perhaps the best known and most discussed interpretation. For an overview and links to previous posts, start here.
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