_A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491._ This chapter introduces the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, which was one of the most sensible appearances of the divine glory that ever was in this lower world. Here are (1,) _ The circumstances of time and place, Exodus 19:1; Exodus 19:2._ (2,) _ The covenant between... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the third month_ After they came out of Egypt, including the latter part of May and the former part of June. It is computed that the law was given just fifty days after their coming out of Egypt, in remembrance of which the feast of pentecost was observed the fiftieth day after the passover, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and Israel_ The people are called by the names both of Jacob and Israel, to remind them that they who had been as low as Jacob when he went to Padan-aram, were now grown as great as God made him when he came from thence and was called Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Exodus 19:4. _Ye have seen how I bare you on eagles' wings_ A high expression of the wonderful tenderness God showed for them. It denotes great speed; God not only came upon the wing for their deliverance, but he hastened them out, as it were, upon the wing. Also that he did it with great ease, with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then ye shall be a peculiar treasure to me_ He doth not instance in any one particular favour, but expresseth it in that which was _inclusive_ of all happiness, that he would be to them _a God in covenant_, and they should be to him _a people._ Nay, you _shall be a peculiar treasure:_ not that God... [ Continue Reading ]
_A kingdom of priests, a holy nation_ All the Israelites, if compared with other people, were _priests_ unto God, so _near_ were they _to him_, so much employed in his immediate service, and such intimate communion they had with him. The tendency of the laws given them was to _distinguish_ them _fro... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Moses laid before their faces all these words_ He not only explained to them what God had given him in charge, but put it to their choice, whether they would accept these promises upon these terms or not. His laying it _to their faces_ speaks his laying it to _their consciences. And they answer... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanctify the people_ As Job sent and _sanctified his sons, Job 1:5_. _Sanctify them_ That is, call them off from their worldly business, and call them to religious exercises, meditation and prayer, that they may receive the law from God's mouth with reverence and devotion. Two things particularly w... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the sight of all the people_ Though they should _see no manner of similitude_, yet they should see so much as would convince them, that God was among them of a truth. And so high was the top of mount Sinai, that it is supposed not only the camp of Israel, but even the countries about might disce... [ Continue Reading ]
_Set bounds_ Probably he drew a ditch round the foot of the hill, which none were to pass upon pain of death. This was to intimate, 1st, That lawful reverence which ought to possess the minds of all that worship God. 2d, The distance at which worshippers were kept under that dispensation, which we o... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the trumpet soundeth long_ Then let them take their places at the foot of the mount. Never was so great a congregation called together and _preached_ to at once as this was here. No one man's voice could have reached so many, but the voice of God did.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now at length is come that memorable day, in which _Israel heard the voice of the Lord God_ speaking to them _out of the midst of the fire_ and _lived, Deuteronomy 4:33_. Never was there such a sermon preached before or since, as this, which was here preached to _the church in the wilderness._ For t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The whole mount quaked greatly_ There cannot be a more grand, awful, and majestic description than this of the descent of Jehovah upon mount Sinai. We can scarcely read it without trembling; and all the tremendous majesty of God appears before our eyes. The psalmist seems to have conceived a most h... [ Continue Reading ]