Exodus 20:18-26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:26

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar ,.... That is, you priests, the sons of Aaron, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase the words; the altar of burnt offering built when the tabernacle was seemed not to require any, being but three cubits high, Exodus 27:1 but that in Solomon's temple did, being ten cubits high, 2 Chronicles 4:1 and therefore some method must be used to ascend it, and do the business that was to be done on it: now the Jews say F2 Middot,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:18

And all the people saw the thunderings, etc. - They had witnessed all these awful things before, (see Exodus 19:16 ;), but here they seem to have been repeated; probably at the end of each command, there was a peal of thunder, a blast of the trumpet, and a gleam of lightning, to impress their hearts the more deeply with a due sense of the Divine Majesty, of the holiness of the law which was now delivered, and of the fearful consequences of disobedience. This had the desired effect; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:20

And Moses said - Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces - The maxim contained in this verse is, Fear not, that he may fear - do not fear with such a fear as brings consternation into the soul, and produces nothing but terror and confusion; but fear with that fear which reverence and filial affection inspire, that ye sin not - that, through the love and reverence ye feel to your Maker and Sovereign, ye may abstain from every appearance of evil, lest... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:22

I have talked with you from heaven - Though God manifested himself by the fire, the lightning, the earthquake, the thick darkness, etc., yet the ten words, or commandments were probably uttered from the higher regions of the air, which would be an additional proof to the people that there was no imposture in this case; for though strange appearances and voices might be counterfeited on earth, as was often, no doubt, done by the magicians of Egypt; yet it would be utterly impossible to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:23

Ye shall not make with me gods of silver - The expressions here are very remarkable. Before it was said, Ye shall have no other gods Before me, פני אל al panai , Exodus 20:3 . Here they are commanded, ye shall not make gods of silver or gold אתי itti With me, as emblems or representatives of God, in order, as might be pretended, to keep these displays of his magnificence in memory; on the contrary, he would have only an altar of earth - of plain turf, on which they should offer... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:24

Thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings - The law concerning which was shortly to be given, though sacrifices of this kind were in use from the days of Abel. In all places where I record my name - Wherever I am worshipped, whether in the open wilderness, at the tabernacle, in the temple, the synagogues, or elsewhere, I will come unto thee and bless thee. These words are precisely the same in signification with those of our Lord, Matthew 18:20 ; : For where two or three are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:25

Thou shalt not build it of hewn stone - Because they were now in a wandering state, and had as yet no fixed residence; and therefore no time should be wasted to rear costly altars, which could not be transported with them, and which they must soon leave. Besides, they must not lavish skill or expense on the construction of an altar; the altar of itself, whether costly or mean, was nothing in the worship; it was only the place on which the victim should be laid, and their mind must be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:26

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar - The word altar comes from altus , high or elevated, though the Hebrew word מזבח mizbach , from זבח zabach , to slay, kill, etc., signifies merely a place for sacrifice; see Genesis 8:20 . But the heathens, who imitated the rites of the true God in their idolatrous worship, made their altars very high; whence they derived their name altaria , altars, i.e., very high or elevated places; which they built thus, partly through... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:24

Verse 24 24.An altar of earth thou shalt make. This precept differs from the other, which I have just explained; because although it refers to the choice of a place, (111) yet the mention of a place is omitted, and it only touches upon the material and form of the altar. God, therefore, commands that an altar should be built to Him, either of earth or of a heap of stones, which had not been artificially polished. But I understand this of the altars, which either in the desert or elsewhere... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:26

Verse 26 26.Neither shalt thou go up. When God had prescribed modesty to the priests in their whole life, and in their private actions, no wonder that He should require especial care of decency and propriety in the performance of their sacred duties. He had indeed already desired that the priests should wear drawers or breeches when they went into the sanctuary; yet not content with this symbol of purity, He forbids them to ascend the altar by steps, lest haply the drawers themselves should be... read more

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