Exodus 19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 19

This chapter introduces the solemnity of the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, which was one of the most striking appearances of the divine glory that ever was in this lower world. We have here, I. The circumstances of time and place, Exod. 19:1, 2. II. The covenant between God and Israel settled in general. The gracious proposal God made to them (Exod. 19:3-6), and their consent to the proposal, Exod. 19:7, 8. III. Notice given three days before of God's design to give the law out of a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 19:1-8

Here is, I. The date of that great charter by which Israel was incorporated. 1. The time when it bears date (Exod. 19:1)--in the third month after they came out of Egypt. It is computed that the law was given just fifty days after their coming out of Egypt, in remembrance of which the feast of Pentecost was observed the fiftieth day after the passover, and in compliance with which the Spirit was poured out upon the apostles at the feast of pentecost, fifty days after the death of Christ. In... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 19:9-15

Here, I. God intimates to Moses his purpose of coming down upon mount Sinai, in some visible appearance of his glory, in a thick cloud (Exod. 19:9); for he said that he would dwell in the thick darkness (2 Chron. 6:1), and make this his pavilion (Ps. 18:11), holding back the face of his throne when he set it upon mount Sinai, and spreading a cloud upon it, Job 26:9. This thick cloud was to prohibit curious enquiries into things secret, and to command an awful adoration of that which was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 19:16-25

Now, at length, comes that memorable day, that terrible day of the Lord, that day of judgment, in which Israel heard the voice of the Lord God speaking to them out of the midst of the fire, and lived, Deut. 4:33. Never was there such a sermon preached, before nor since, as this which was here preached to the church in the wilderness. For, I. The preacher was God himself (Exod. 19:18): The Lord descended in fire, and (Exod. 19:20), The Lord came down upon mount Sinai. The shechinah, or glory of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 19

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 19 In this chapter we have an account of the coming of the children of Israel to Mount Sinai, Exodus 19:1 , of the covenant made with them there, the proposal on the part of God, and their acceptance of it, Exodus 19:3 , the previous notice God gave three days before of his appearance on the mount, the orders for their preparation to meet him, and the execution of them, Exodus 19:9 , the awful and tremendous appearance of God upon the mount, Exodus 19:6 and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 19:1

In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt ,.... Which was the month Sivan, and answers to part of May and part of June: the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai ; which had its name from the mountain situated in it, and that from the bushes which grew upon it. Justin F26 E Trogo, l. 36. c. 2. calls it Synan, which he says Moses occupied, and Strabo F1 Geograph. l. 16. p. 520. , Sinnan. Hither they came either on the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 19:2

For they were departed from Rephidim ,.... After they had fought with Amalek, and came to the western part of the mount to Horeb, where the rock was smitten for them; and they were come from that now, and encamped at Sinai, after Jethro had paid a visit to Moses: and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in this wilderness ; that is, of Sinai, as in the preceding verse: and there Israel encamped before the mount ; Mount Sinai, from whence the desert or wilderness was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 19:3

And Moses went up unto God ,.... Who was in the pillar of cloud upon the top of the mount; this was on the second day, according to the Targum of Jonathan: "the Lord called unto him out of the mountain"; or had called unto him, as Aben Ezra, since without his leave he could not have gone up. He called to him out of the cloud upon the top of the mountain to come up, and being come near him, he called to him, and spoke with an articulate voice, as follows: saying, thus shalt thou say, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 19:4

Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians ,.... The plagues he brought upon them in Egypt, and the destruction of them at the Red sea; these things they were eyewitnesses of, and needed no other proof or evidence to convince and assure them of them, and therefore must be under obligation to attend to what he was about to recommend unto them, for which reason this is observed: and how I bare you on eagles' wings ; that is, as on eagles' wings, the note of similitude being wanting, but to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 19:5

Now therefore ,.... Since they had received such marks of his favour, and were laid under great obligations to him: if ye will obey my voice indeed ; truly, sincerely, and heartily; or "in hearkening hearken", or "in obeying obey" F7 שמוע תשמעו "obediendo obedieritis", Pagninus, Montanus; "audiendo audiveritis", Drusius; "auscultando auscultabitis", Piscator; so Ainsworth. ; that is, closely and attentively hearken to what he should say to them, and thoroughly and constantly... read more

Group of Brands