And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
Moses fasted forty days and nights sustained by God alone, for He who made the body needs no ordinary means to nourish it. His soul feasted on the word of God and prayer, so satisfied with His presence that the body's hunger vanished; this is the truest pleasure, far beyond meat and drink.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 34:28-35
And till Moses had done speaking with them,.... Not when he had done, as the Septuagint version, for then there would have been no occasion for it; but when he first began to speak to Aaron and the "rulers", and continued to speak to the congregation until he had finished what he had to say; even he did what follows, as soon as he perceived...
they were afraid to come nigh him--Their fear arose from a sense of guilt--the beaming radiance of his countenance made him appear to their awe-struck consciences a flaming minister of heaven.