Deuteronomy 33:2

The Lord came, to wit, to the Israelites, i.e. manifested graciously and gloriously among them. From Sinai, i.e. beginning at Sinai, where the first and most glorious appearance of God was, and so going on with them to Seir and Paran. Or, to Sinai, the particle mem oft signifying to, as is evident by comparing Isaiah 59:20, with Romans 11:26 1 Kings 8:30, with 2 Chronicles 6:21 2 Samuel 6:2, with 1 Chronicles 13:6. See also Genesis 2:8, Genesis 11:2 13:11 1 Samuel 14:15. Or, in Sinai; mem being put for beth, in, as Exodus 25:18 Deuteronomy 15:1 Job 19:26 Psalms 68:29, Psalms 72:16. Rose up; he appeared or showed himself, as the sun doth when it riseth. From Seir, i.e. from the mountain or land of Edom, which is called Seir, Genesis 32:3, Genesis 36:8 Deuteronomy 2:4, to which place the Israelites came, Numbers 20:14, &c.; and from thence God led them on towards the Land of Promise, and then gloriously appeared for them in subduing Sihon and Og before them, and giving their countries unto them; which glorious work of God's is particularly celebrated Judges 5:4. But because the land of Seir or Edom is sometimes taken more largely, and so reacheth even to the Red Sea, as appears from 1 Kings 9:26, and therefore Mount Sinai was near to it; and because Paran, which here follows, was also near Sinai, as being the next station into which they came from the wilderness of Sinai, Numbers 10:12; all this verse may belong to God's appearance in Mount Sinai, where that glorious light which shone upon Mount-Sinai directly did in all probability scatter its beams into adjacent parts, such as Seir and Paean were; and so this is only a poetical and prophetical variation of the phrase and expression of the same thing in divers words, and God coming, or rising, or shining from or to or in Sinai, and Sear, and Paran note one and the same illustrious action of God appearing there with ten thousands of his saints or holy angels, and there giving a fiery law to them, as it here follows. And this interpretation may receive some strength from Habakkuk 3:3, where this glorious march of God before his people is remembered; only teman, which signifies the south, is put for Seir, which is here, possibly to signify that that Seir which is here mentioned was to be understood of the southern part of the country of Seir or Edom, which was that part adjoining to the Red Sea. Others refer this of Seir to the brazen serpent, that eminent type of Christ, which was erected in this place. Mount Paran; a place where God eminently manifested his presence and goodness, both in giving the people flesh which they desired, and in appointing the seventy elders, and pouring forth his Spirit upon them, Num 11; though the exposition mentioned in the foregoing branch may seem more probable. With ten thousands of saints, i.e. with a a great company of holy angels, Psalms 68:17 Daniel 7:10, which attended upon him in this great and glorious work of giving the law, as may be gathered from Acts 7:53 Galatians 3:19 Hebrews 2:2, Hebrews 12:22. From his right hand; which both wrote the law and gave it to men; an allusion to men, who ordinarily write and give gifts with their right, and not with their left hand. A fiery law. The law is called fiery, partly, because it is of a fiery nature, purging, and searching, and inflaming, for which reasons God's word is compared to fire, Jeremiah 23:29; partly, to signify that fiery wrath and curse which it inflicteth upon sinners for the violation of it, 2 Corinthians 3:7,9; and principally, because it was delivered out of the midst of the fire, Exodus 19:16,18 Deu 4:11 5:22,23.