And Moses went up into the mount ,.... To the top of it, and as it seems alone, leaving Joshua behind in a lower part of the mountain: and a cloud covered the mount ; in which cloud Jehovah was. read more
And the glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai ,.... The divine Shechinah or Majesty, some visible token of it, an exceeding great brightness and splendour: and the cloud covered it six days ; either the glory of the Lord, so that it could not be seen it had been; or the mount, as Jarchi; but that is observed before, unless repeated for the sake of the time it covered it, six days; or him, Moses, as some in Jarchi, who for six days together was covered with a thick cloud, so that he... read more
And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount ,.... For when God spoke out of the cloud, the glory of the Lord flashed out like devouring fire; it was not devouring fire, but it was like it; it was like a great blaze of fire, which consumes all that is in its ways; it was such a large body of light, and so clear and bright, that it looked like devouring flames of fire; and being upon the top of the mount was very visible, and seen at a great distance... read more
And the seventh day he called - It is very likely that Moses went up into the mount on the first day of the week; and having with Joshua remained in the region of the cloud during six days, on the seventh, which was the Sabbath, God spake to him, and delivered successively to him, during forty days and forty nights, the different statutes and ordinances which are afterwards mentioned. read more
The glory of the Lord was like devouring fire - This appearance was well calculated to inspire the people with the deepest reverence and godly rear; and this is the use the apostle makes or it, Hebrews 12:28 , Hebrews 12:29 , where he evidently refers to this place, saying, Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a Consuming Fire. Seeing the glory of the Lord upon the mount like a devouring fire, Moses having tarried long, the... read more
Prolonged commune with God. Prolonged commune with God is the soul's truest strengthening, and sweetest refreshment. Without it our spirits languish—we grow weary and faint—worldliness creeps upon us—our thoughts and discourse become "of the earth, earthy"—we have no life or liveliness in ourselves, and can impart none to others. Moses' commune was abnormal, extraordinary, inimitable by us in its main features—its duration, locality, nearness of access, and completeness of isolation. But... read more
Moses ascends the mount. Observe, 1 . He alone ascends ( Exodus 24:12 ). Aaron and his sons, with the seventy elders, were left behind. Their privilege was great as compared with that of the body of the people. Yet even they are not permitted to enter the cloud—to draw nigh into God's immediate presence. The limitations and imperfections of the legal economy are stamped on these arrangements. How superior the standing of Christians, who are all permitted to draw nigh; who have now... read more
Moses went up into the mount . Having made the necessary arrangements for the government of the people during his absence, Moses ascended, in company with Joshua, to the upper part of the mountain, and there waited for some further summons. A cloud , or, rather, the cloud previously mentioned ( Exodus 19:16 ), stood gathered upon the highest eminence, and marked the special presence of God there. Moses, though called up into the mount, would not intrude into this inner sanctuary, until... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 24:12-18
The public ceremony of sealing the covenant being over, Moses is called up to receive further instructions, which we have in the following chapters. I. He is called up into the mount, and there he remains six days at some distance. Orders are given him (Exod. 24:12): Come up to the mount, and be there, that is, ?Expect to continue there for some considerable time.? Those that would have communion with God must not only come to ordinances, but they must abide by them. Blessed are those that... read more