And Moses went down from the mount unto the people ,.... The same day that he went up, the fourth day of the month: and sanctified the people ; instructed them and ordered them what they should do for their sanctification, in order to their hearing the law from the mouth of the Lord: and they washed their clothes ; as the Lord had directed Moses to enjoin them, and as he had commanded them; see Gill on Exodus 19:10 . read more
And he said unto the people, be ready against the third day ,.... The third day from thence, the sixth of the month Sivan, against which day they were to prepare themselves, by washing their garments, and all other outward acts of sanctification and purity they were directed to, that they might be ready for the service of that day, to hear and receive the law from God himself: Aben Ezra has this note on the passage,"perhaps not a man slept that night, that he might hear the voice of the Lord... read more
Covenant before law. "Now, therefore, if ye will obey," etc.— Exodus 19:5 , Exodus 19:6 . This subject might well be introduced by:— 1 . Showing how exactly the topography of Sinai (i.e; the plain of Er Rahah, Ras Sufsafeh, and Jebel Musa) agrees with the sacred history. [For material of description see "The Desert of the Exodus."] 2 . How suitable mountains were to constitute the scenery of Divine manifestation. 3 . An analysis of this section— In this preparation for... read more
The revelation of Jehovah. I. WHAT IS DEMANDED ERE THE REVELATION CAN BE IMPARTED . 1 . The will must be surrendered to God, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" ( Exodus 19:8 ). 2 . The filthiness of the past must be put away; "Sanctify them" ( Exodus 19:10 ). There must be loathing of, and separation from, sin. 3 . There must be a sense of the distance sin has put between the soul and God; "Take heed to yourselves that ye go not up into the... read more
The manifestation of God's glory at Sinai. I. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MANIFESTATION . God made this purpose known beforehand; and it was that the people who saw and heard these dreadful phenomena might believe Moses for ever, might permanently acknowledge his authority as a messenger and representative of God. When Moses was at Sinai before and then entrusted with a Divine message to Israel, he urged it as one of his difficulties that Israel would not believe him. "They will say,... read more
The awfulness of God's presence, and the preparation needed ere we approach him. I. THE AWFULNESS OF GOD 'S PRESENCE . The presence of God is awful, even to those holy angels who are without spot or stain of sin, having done the holy will of their Maker from their creation. But to sinful man it is far more awful. No man "can see God's face, and live" ( Exodus 33:20 ). Jacob was mistaken when he said, " I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved" ( Genesis 32:30... read more
The mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire ( Hebrews 12:18 ). It is interesting to observe that, with the latter part of this chapter, we enter on an entirely new phase in the history of God's revelation of himself to Israel. Terror enough there has been in the previous portions of the book—terror and "a mighty hand"—awful manifestations of God's power and holiness; but towards Israel there has been displayed only benignity and fatherly affection. Their wants have been... read more
In obedience to the commands which he had received ( Exodus 19:10 ), Moses returned to the camp at the foot of Sinai, and issued the order that the people were to purify themselves and wash their garments during that day and the next, and be ready for a great solemnity on the third day. He must also, at the same time, have given directions for the construction of the fence, which was to hedge in the people ( Exodus 19:12 ), and which he speaks of as constructed in Exodus 19:23 . read more
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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