Exodus 19:1,2
THE WILDERNESS ... THE DESERT OF SINAI - If the mount from which the law was delivered be the rock of Ras Safsafeh, then the spacious plain of Er Rahah would be the “desert” of Sinai (see Exodus 5:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WILDERNESS ... THE DESERT OF SINAI - If the mount from which the law was delivered be the rock of Ras Safsafeh, then the spacious plain of Er Rahah would be the “desert” of Sinai (see Exodus 5:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON EAGLES’ WINGS - Both in the law Deuteronomy 32:11 and in the Gospel Matthew 23:37, the Church is compared to fledgelings which the mother cherishes and protects under her wings: but in the law that mother is an eagle, in the Gospels “a hen”; thus shadowing forth the diversity of administration un... [ Continue Reading ]
A PECULIAR TREASURE - A costly possession acquired with exertion, and carefully guarded. The special relation in which Israel stands, taken out of the pagan world and consecrated to God, as His slaves, subjects, and children, determines their privileges, and is the foundation of their duties. The sa... [ Continue Reading ]
A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS - Israel collectively is a royal and priestly race: a dynasty of priests, each true member uniting in himself the attributes of a king and priest. Compare 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6. AN HOLY NATION - The holiness of Israel consisted in its special consecration to God: it was a... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT THE LORD ... - By this answer the people accepted the covenant. It was the preliminary condition of their complete admission into the state of a royal priesthood.... [ Continue Reading ]
SANCTIFY THEM - The injunction involves bodily purification and undoubtedly also spiritual preparation. Compare Hebrews 10:22. The washing of the clothes was an outward symbol well understood in all nations.... [ Continue Reading ]
SET BOUNDS UNTO THE PEOPLE - The low line of alluvial mounds at the foot of the cliff of Ras Safsafeh exactly answers to the bounds which were to keep the people off from touching the mount: but the bounds here spoken of were to be set up by Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOUCH IT - Rather “touch him.” The person who had touched the mount was not to be touched, since the contact would be pollution.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE CAMP - The encampment must have extended far and wide over the plain in front of the mountain. From one entrance of the plain to the other there is space for the whole host of the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
A FURNACE - The word in the original is Egyptian, and occurs only in the Pentateuch.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIESTS ALSO - Sacrifices had hitherto been offered by firstborn, or the heads of families. See Genesis 14:18 note.... [ Continue Reading ]