_The vision of Jehovah_(_vv._1 2, 9 11). _The ratification of the covenant_(_vv._3 8). _Moses ascends the mount to receive_(E) _the tables of stone_(_vv._12 15a, 18b), _and_(P) _directions for the construction of a sanctuary_(_vv._15b 18a). The chapter is evidently not a unity. In Exo Exodus 24:1 M... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ UNTO MOSES HE SAID] so the Heb. The emphasis on -Moses" implies that Jehovah had before, in a part of the narrative now lost, been speaking to someone else. The last preceding passage from J was Exodus 19:20-25, ending abruptly, in the middle of a sentence. It may be inferred that the intermed... [ Continue Reading ]
(J). Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, are summoned up into the mountain, to Jehovah. The sequel follows in _vv._9 11.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY (emph.)] Aaron, his two sons, and the elders. _neither_, &c. Observe the gradation: the people generally are to remain at the foot of the mountain; Aaron, his two sons, and the elders come partly up the mountain; only Moses goes to the top (cf. Exodus 19:21; Exodus 20:21).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the words … and the judgements_ i.e. (see on Exodus 21:1) both the positive commands, and the -judgements," or decisions prescribing what is to be done in particular cases, contained in Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33. The Decalogue, which the people had heard themselves, cannot be included in the ter... [ Continue Reading ]
(E). The sequel to Exodus 23:33. Moses communicates to the people the words which Jehovah has spoken; and upon their expressing their assent to them, solemnly concludes a covenant, on the basis of them, between Jehovah and the nation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_wrote_ that they might be preserved in a tangible form, and form the basis of a permanent covenant (_v._7). _builded an altar_ Cf. Exodus 17:15; and on Exodus 20:24. _under the mount_ Cf. Exodus 19:17. _pillars_ or STANDING-STONES (see on Exodus 23:24); partly, as the usual adjunct of an altar,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE _young men_, &c. upon whom (cf. Judges 17:5), as the strongest and most active members of the community (Ew., Di.), devolved in these times the duty of killing and cleaning the animal, and arranging its parts upon the altar, &c. Onk. _the firstborn_. _burnt offerings, and … peace offerings_ se... [ Continue Reading ]
Half of the blood was thrown against the altar; the other half (_v._8) was thrown over the people. Covenants were ratified in different ways: sometimes, for instance, the contracting parties were held to be bound by eating salt together (cf. Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5), sometim... [ Continue Reading ]
_the book of the covenant_ The -book," or scroll, just written (_v._4), containing the laws of Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33, on the basis of which (_v._8) the -covenant" was to be concluded. If, however, the view expressed on _vv._3, 12 is correct, the -book" will not have included the -judgements,... [ Continue Reading ]
_the blood of the covenant_ the blood by which the covenant is ratified. Cf. Hebrews 9:20; Hebrews 12:24 (noting _vv._18 21); 1 Peter 1:2, with Hort's note (p. 23 f.); and the -blood of the" new -covenant," founded by Christ, Matthew 26:28 = Mark 14:24 (cf. Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25). _concer... [ Continue Reading ]
_and they saw_, &c. LXX., to avoid its being supposed that God could be -seen" (cf. on Exo Exodus 23:15 b, Exodus 33:20), paraphrase by -and they saw the place where the God of Israel stood." _and there was under his feet_, &c. The idea appears to be that they saw the Divine glory, not directly, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
It was the general belief (see on Exodus 33:20) that God could not be -seen," except in a purely spiritual sense, with impunity; but upon this occasion _Jehovah_ PUT _not_ FORTH _his hand_(Exodus 9:15; Exodus 22:8) _upon_Moses or his companions, to harm them. _nobles_ Heb. _-ăẓîlîm_, only here in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_the tables of stone_ on which the Decalogue was inscribed. They are mentioned frequently in the sequel; and, remarkably enough, by different expressions, corresponding to the three principal Pent. sources: -in Exodus 31:18 b E, as here, says "tables of stone"; P says "the two tables of the testimon... [ Continue Reading ]
12 15A (E). The sequel to _vv._3 8. Moses ascends the mount to receive the two tables of stone.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joshua_ first mentioned in Exodus 17:9. _his minister_ Joshua's standing title: Exodus 33:11; Numbers 11:28; Joshua 1:1. _and Moses went up_, &c. leaving Joshua on the lower part of the mountain; cf. Exodus 32:17, with the note. _the mount of God_ See on Exodus 3:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ UNTO THE ELDERS HE SAID] viz. before going up into the mount (_v._13). The elders are not the seventy mentioned by J in _vv._1, 9 (among whom Hur is not named, and who are not likely to have had forensic differences while waiting for Moses" return), but the elders in the camp, who would natura... [ Continue Reading ]
15B 18A (P). Moses is summoned up into the cloud on the top of the mount. The verses are P's parallel to the narrative of JE in ch. 19. 15B. The sequel in P to Exodus 19:1-2 a. _the cloud_ the one which in P regularly enshrouds the -glory" of Jehovah (cf. on the tabernacle, Exodus 40:34 f.; and th... [ Continue Reading ]