Exodus 20:22-26 NIV

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:18-22

The terrors of Sinai their design and their effects. I. THEIR DESIGN . 1 . Not to slay the people. The people dreaded that if God spoke to them again, they would die ( Exodus 20:19 ). But Moses said—No; this was not the design of the manifestation. "Fear not" ( Exodus 20:20 ). The voice of the law in Scripture, though it is felt in the conscience to be a voice of death ( Romans 7:9-11 ), is not intended to be really so. It is meant to lead to Christ. 2 . To prove... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:20-22

The law of the altar. I. THE OBJECT Or WORSHIP . The true God, not gods of silver, or gods of gold ( Exodus 20:23 ). The God who had talked with them from heaven had appeared in no visible form. "Ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice" ( Deuteronomy 4:12 ). Let the sole object of our worship be the invisible, spiritual, infinite, yet revealed God. God's revelations of himself lay the basis of right worship. God has spoken. How reverently... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22

Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven . The book opened with this reminder, which at once recalled its author and declared its authority. " I , who give these laws, am the same who spake the ten commandments amid the thunders of Sinai. Reverence the laws accordingly." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

1 . Against idols; 2 . Concerning altars ( Exodus 20:23-26 ). Then follow the laws respecting what our legal writers call "the rights of persons"—which occupy thirty-two verses of Exodus 21:1-36 . and fall under some twenty different heads, beginning with the rights of slaves, and terminating with the compensation to be made for injuries to the person caused by cattle. The third section is upon "the rights of property," and extends from Exodus 21:33 , to Exodus 22:15 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

I will go unto the altar of God. The directions given shadow forth the essentials of genuine worship. Amongst the heathen the idol is the central figure, the human symbol of the unseen God. The true God will admit no such symbol; it is a barrier against, not a step towards, the worship he desires. In true worship there must be utter self-suppression. "Obedience is better than sacrifice;" it is only through obedience that the sacrifice becomes acceptable. In this light consider— I. THE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:23

Ye shall not make with me gods of silver , etc. This is a repetition, in part, of the second commandment, and can only be accounted for by the prohibition being specially needed. The first idea of the Israelites, when they considered that Moses had deserted them, was to make a golden calf for a god. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:24

An altar of earth . Among the nations of antiquity altars were indispensable to Divine worship, which everywhere included sacrifice. They were often provided on the spur of the occasion, and were then "constructed of earth, sods, or stones, collected upon the spot." The patriarchal altars bad probably been of this character, and it was now provided that the same usage should continue: at any rate, elaborate structures of hewn and highly ornamented stone should not be allowed, lest thus... read more

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:18-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:20-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:24

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