8:9 the two tablets of stone. The copy of the covenant (cf. v. 21; Ex. 25:16, 21; 40:20).

Horeb. Following the pattern established in Deuteronomy, the writers of the Deuteronomic History call the site where the covenant was made “Mount Horeb” and not “Mount Sinai.” “Horeb” is used eleven times in Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 5:2) and twice in the history (here and 19:8); “Sinai” occurs only once in each (Deut. 33:2; Judg. 5:5).