Exodus 20:22-23:33 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

Moses having gone into the thick darkness, where God was, God there spoke in his hearing only, privately and without terror, all that follows hence to the end of Exod. 23:1-32, which is mostly an exposition of the ten commandments; and he was to transmit it by word of mouth first, and afterwards in writing, to the people. The laws in these verses related to God's worship. I. They are here forbidden to make images for worship (Exod. 20:22, 23): You have seen that I have talked with you from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:22

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... When Moses was come near the thick darkness where God was: thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel ; at his return unto them, and which he was to deliver in the name of God, and as his words: ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven ; descending from heaven on Mount Sinai in a cloud and fire, he talked with them out of the cloud and fire, and delivered to them with an audible voice the above ten commands; the cloud and fire they... 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

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 20:22-26

Nothing could be more appropriate as the commencement of the book of the covenant than these regulations for public worship. The rules for the building of altars must have been old and accepted, and are not inconsistent with the directions for the construction of the altar of the court of the tabernacle, Exodus 27:1-8 (compare Joshua 22:26-28). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 20:21-23

Exodus 20:21-23. While the people continued to stand afar off Afraid of God’s wrath, Moses drew near unto the thick darkness He was made to draw near; so the word is: Of himself he durst not have ventured into the thick darkness: if God had not called him, and encouraged him. And being gone into the thick darkness where God was, God there spoke, in his hearing only, all that follows from hence to the end of chapter 23., which is mostly an exposition of the ten commandments; and he... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 20:22-26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 20:22

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

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 20:22-26

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 20:21-23

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