Exodus 19:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 19:17

Moses brought forth the people out of the camp . The camp itself must have been withdrawn to some little distance from the foot of the mount, so that a vacant space intervened between the first tents and the "fence" which Moses had caused to be erected almost close to the mount. Into this vacant space Moses now led "the people"— i.e; the chief of the people—so bringing them as near as they might come to God. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 19:17

Prepare to meet thy God. God's revelation of himself to man is gradual, as man can bear it. [Cf. the way in which a parent reveals himself to his child, Isaiah 28:11 , with stammering lips and a feigned tongue.] Israel had learnt to know God as a deliverer; must learn to know him further as a lawgiver and ruler. I. THE SCENE . A long, broad valley. Rocks on each side widening out into a natural amphitheatre. Facing down the valley is a steep, precipitous mountain; grey,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 19:17

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. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 19:1-25

19:1-24:18 MAKING OF THE COVENANTIsrael at Mount Sinai (19:1-25)The arrival of the people at Mount Sinai marked the fulfilment of the promise God made to Moses on the occasion of the burning bush (see 3:12). The journey from Egypt took three months and was accomplished solely by God’s power and care. Long before the nation of Israel existed, God chose it to be his people and he confirmed this choice in a covenant made with Abraham. He then guided the history of Abraham’s descendants to bring... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 19:16-20

"And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 19:17

17. Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God—Wady-er-Raheh, where they stood, has a spacious sandy plain; immediately in front of Es Suksafeh, considered by ROBINSON to be the mount from which the law was given. "We measured it, and estimate the whole plain at two geographical miles long, and ranging in breadth from one-third to two-thirds of a mile, or as equivalent to a surface of one square mile. This space is nearly doubled by the recess on the west, and by the broad... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 19:16-25

God again used the symbol of fire to reveal Himself on this mountain (Exodus 3:2-5). Fire is a symbol of His holiness that enlightens, purges, and refines. The smoke and quaking that accompanied the fire further impressed this awesome revelation on the people.The priests referred to (Exodus 19:22; Exodus 19:24) were evidently young men (first-born?) that offered sacrifices before God appointed the Aaronic priests to this service (cf. Exodus 24:5).Comparative ancient Near Eastern studies have... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 19:1-25

Preparation for the Giving of the Law1. The same day] the 15th day of the month: cp. Exodus 12:18, Exodus 12:29; Exodus 16:1. Marching slowly, with long halts at the various stations on the route, the host took two months to traverse the 150 m between Egypt and Sinai. Here they remained eleven months (see Numbers 10:11-12), during which time the nation entered into a formal covenant with Jehovah on the basis of the moral law received from God by Moses, and promulgated by him.Wilderness of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 19:16-20

(16-20) Thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud.—Compare with this description that of Deut. (Deuteronomy 4:11-12), which is fuller in some respects:—“Ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the Lord spake unto you out of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.” The phenomena accumulated to impress the people seem to have been loud... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 19:17

(17) Out of the camp.—An open space must have intervened between the camp and the “bounds.” Into this Moses led the representatives of the people, so bringing them as near to God as was permitted.At the nether part of the mount.—In the plain directly in front of the Ras Sufsafeh, and almost under it. read more

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