These verses are closely connected with the preceding chapter, and state very briefly the results of the intercession of Moses recorded in Deuteron…

I ... put the tables in the ark which I (had) made; and there they be. —Or, and they were there, or they con…

And I turned myself
From the Lord, out of whose hands he had received the tables:

Moses reminded the Israelites of God's great mercy to them, despite their provocations.