Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Corinthians 3:7

7 For if the ministration of death written, and ingraven in stones, was glorious , so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away ;

The Apostle is manifestly comparing the Ministry of the Gospel with the Ministry of the Law, and shewing the Excellency of the former above the latter. In the former verse he had called the Law, The Letter; and the Gospel, in opposition to it, he had called, The Spirit: here he calleth the Ministration of the Law, the Ministration of Death; because it only shewed man his Duty, or things to be done, but give no strength or help, by which he should do them; only cursing man, but shewing him no way by which he might escape that Curse: So it did kill men, and led them to eternal Death and Condemnation, without shewing them any means of Life and Salvation. He also undervalueth the Law, in comparison with the Gospel, as being only written, and ingraven upon Stones; whereas (as he had said before,) The Gospel is written in the fleshly Tables of mens hearts. Yet (saith he) the Ministration of the Law (which was indeed but the Ministration of Death) was glorious: There was a great deal of the Glory and Majesty of God attended the giving of the Law, (of which we read Exod. 19.)

So that the Children of Israel could not stedfastly behold Moses for the glory of his countenance: Of this we read Exod. 34.29, 30. 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. So as it was glorious to be but a Minister of the Law, [illegible: 1 letter]hat is, of the Revelation of the Will of God, as to [illegible: 1 letter]ans Duty, Which glory (saith the Apostle) was to be done away; Moses his face did not always so shine, neither was the glory of his Ministration to abide always, but to cease by the coming in of the New Covenant.

Marginal references: Deut. 10.1, &c.