Exodus 19:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 19:13

There shall not an hand touch it . Rather, "there shall not an hand touch him ." The transgressor shall not be seized and apprehended, for that would involve the repetition of the offence by his arrester, who must overpass the "bounds" set by Moses, in order to make the arrest. Instead of seizing him, they were to kill him with stones or arrows from within the "bounds," and the same was to be done, if any stray beast approached the mountain. When the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 19:13

Touch it - Rather “touch him.” The person who had touched the mount was not to be touched, since the contact would be pollution. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 19:13

Exodus 19:13. When the trumpet soundeth long Then let them take their places at the foot of the mount. Never was so great a congregation called together and preached to at once as this was here. No one man’s voice could have reached so many, but the voice of God did. 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 19:13

it = him: i.e. not arrested or seized lest trespass on mount incurred. surely be stoned . Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ). Compare Genesis 26:28 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 19:10-14

"And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, and be ready against the third day; for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: no hand shall touch him, but he shall... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 19:12-13

Exodus 19:12-13. Whosoever toucheth the mount, &c.— Houbigant, from the Samaritan, renders the first part of the 12th verse, Thou shalt set bounds round about the mountain, and shalt command the people, saying, &c. What striking circumstances of terror attended the giving of the law! How different from the manner in which the mild and blessed JESUS preached the gospel of peace! The former was a severe schoolmaster to bring us to him: the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews enlarges... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 19:7-15

The reaction of the Israelites to God’s promises was understandably positive, and God approved it (Deuteronomy 5:27-28). They wanted what God offered them. However, they overestimated their own ability to keep the covenant, and they underestimated God’s standards for them. This twin error is traceable to a failure to appreciate their own sinfulness and God’s holiness. The Mosaic Law would teach them to appreciate both more realistically (cf. Deuteronomy 5:29).God designed the procedures He... 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 19:13

(13) There shall not an hand touch it.—This translation gives an entirely wrong sense. The meaning is, beyond all doubt, “There shall not a hand touch him,” i.e., the transgressor. To stop him and seize him, another person must have transgressed the bounds, and so have repeated the act which was forbidden. This course was to be avoided, and punishment was to be inflicted on the transgressor by stoning him, or transfixing him with arrows, from within the barrier.Whether it be beast or... read more

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