Exodus 19:3

_AND MOSES WENT UP UNTO GOD, AND THE LORD CALLED UNTO HIM OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN, SAYING, THUS SHALT THOU SAY TO THE HOUSE OF JACOB, AND TELL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL;_ Moses went up unto God - the Shechinah, within the cloud (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18). From the encampment in Er Rehab, the point of his departure, Moses would probably go through the Wady Lejah or Wady Shuweib; then climbing the side of the mount by a winding ascent, perhaps the route usually taken in the present day in scaling it, he would arrive at the broad platform in front of the highest Peak of Sinai. It is a wide, open space, entirely secluded from view; and while in that elevated solitude, he was summoned by the voice of Yahweh to receive the pattern of that theocracy which was now to be established in Israel. It appears that in

3._And Moses went up. _It is probable that Moses sought, as he was wont, retirement., in order to take counsel of God; for he speaks not as of some new or unusual circumstance, but of a custom previously observed; because he dared not stop anywhere, nor make any further advances, except as far as was prescribed him by the mouth of God. His going up to God signifies no more than that he went; out of the camp, that afar from the multitude, and from all distractions he might in secrecy and quiet inquire of God, what was His pleasure; for he did not, like the superstitious, choose a lofty position, that he might be nearer to God; but he withdrew himself from every disturbance, that he might engage all his senses in the occupation of learning. Afterwards, however, he adds, that he had obtained more than he had hoped for, because God, beyond what was customary with Him, addressed him respectin...

1-8 Moses was called up the mountain, and was employed as the messenger of this covenant. The Maker and first Mover of the covenant, is God himself. This blessed charter was granted out of God's own free grace. The covenant here mentioned was the national covenant, by which the Israelites were a people under the government of Jehovah. It was a type of the new covenant made with true believers in Christ Jesus; but, like other types, it was only a shadow of good things to come. As a nation they broke this covenant; therefore the Lord declared that he would make a new covenant with Israel, writing his law, not upon tables of stone, but in their hearts, Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:7. The covenant spoken of in these places as ready to vanish away, is the national covenant with Israel, which they forfeited by their si...

Verse Exodus 19:3. _MOSES WENT UP UNTO GOD_] It is likely that the cloud which had conducted the Israelitish camp had now removed to the top of Sinai; and as this was the symbol of the Divine presence, Moses went up to the place, there to meet the Lord. _THE LORD CALLED UNTO HIM_] This, according to St. Stephen, was the _Angel of the Lord_, Acts 7:38. And from several scriptures we have seen that the _Lord Jesus_ was the person intended; Genesis 16:7, Genesis 16:7; _"_Genesis 18:13_"_

MOSES WENT UP UNTO GOD - This seems to imply that the voice was heard by Moses as he was ascending the mount. HOUSE OF JACOB - This expression does not occur elsewhere in the Pentateuch. It has a special fitness here, referring doubtless to the special promises made to the Patriarch....

EXPOSITION THE FIRST COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL. AS Moses, having reached the foot of Sinai, was proceeding to ascend the mountain, where he looked to have special revelations from God, God called to him out of the mountain, and required a positive engagement on the part of the people, before he would condescend to enter into further direct relations with them. If, through gratitude for what had been done for them in the deliverance from Egypt, and since, they would solemnly engage to obey God and keep the covenant that he should make with them (Exodus 19:5), then a fresh revelation should be made, and fresh engagements entered into; but not otherwise. Moses communicated the message to the people through the alders, and rece

AND MOSES WENT UP UNTO GOD,.... Who was in the pillar of cloud upon the top of the mount; this was on the second day, according to the Targum of Jonathan: "the Lord called unto him out of the mountain"; or had called unto him, as Aben Ezra, since without his leave he could not have gone up. He called to him out of the cloud upon the top of the mountain to come up, and being come near him, he called to him, and spoke with an articulate voice, as follows: SAYING, THUS SHALT THOU SAY, TO THE HOUSE OF JACOB, AND TELL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; which are the same, and are described as descending from the same person, who was called by both names; the one was his name in the former and lower state of his life, the other in the latter and more prosperous one; and his posterity are called by these two names, as Bishop Patrick observes, to put them in mind, that they who had lately been as low as J...

THUS SHALT THOU SAY It is exceedingly important to observe: (1) that Jehovah reminded the people that hitherto they had been the objects of His free grace; (2) that the law is not proposed as a means of life, but as a means by which Israel might become "a peculiar treasure" and a "kingdom of priests"; (3) that the law was not imposed until it had been proposed and voluntarily accepted. The principle is stated in (Galatians 5:1)....

EXODUS 19. AWFUL REVELATION OF GOD IN FIRE AND CLOUD. Exodus 19:1 a P, Exodus 19:2 b - Exodus 19:3 a E, Exodus 19:3 b - Exodus 19:6 Rd, Exodus 19:7 a E, Exodus 19:11 b - Exodus 19:13 J, Exodus 19:14 E,...

WENT UP UNTO GOD: Moses' first ascent. From the Structures T, U, and. (p. 85), it will be seen that we have here the first occurrence of this expression, and the first of the six ascents and descents of Moses to receive and give His laws and ordinances. The following is. summary:. Ascents. Descents. Exodus 19:3. First. Exodus 19:7; Exodus 19:8 -. Exodus 19:8. Second. Exodus 19:14; Exodus 19:20. Third....