Deuteronomy 10:3

10:3 So I made an ark of acacia ¹  wood and carved out two stone tablets just like the first ones. Then I went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands.

Deuteronomy 27:15

27:15 ‘Cursed is the one ²  who makes a carved or metal image – something abhorrent ³  to the Lord, the work of the craftsman ⁴  – and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ ⁵ 

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¹ sn Acacia wood (Heb “shittim wood”). This is wood from the acacia, the most common timber tree of the Sinai region. Most likely it is the species Acacia raddiana because this has the largest trunk. See F. N. Hepper, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, 63.

² tn Heb “man,” but in a generic sense here.

³ tn The Hebrew term translated here “abhorrent” (תּוֹעֵבָה, to’evah) speaks of attitudes and/or behaviors so vile as to be reprehensible to a holy God. See note on the word “abhorrent” in Deut 7:25.

⁴ tn Heb “craftsman’s hands.”

⁵ tn Or “So be it!” The term is an affirmation expressing agreement with the words of the Levites.