Exodus 19:3

3. Moses went up unto God Notice the peculiar statement that Moses went up unto ELOHIM, and JEHOVAH called unto him out of the mountain. He seems to have gone up prompted by a holy impulse, and perhaps went to the spot where he had seen the burning bush, expecting to receive a divine communication . While thus seeking and expecting, JEHOVAH, the God of the Memorial Name, (Exodus 3:14-15,) called to him from the mountain. We need not suppose that Moses was at the time upon the summit, or that this call of Jehovah summoned him thither. He had gone up, apart from the people, into the mountain, and while thus alone the voice of the invisible Jehovah addressed him. As yet there was no visible display of the divine glory.

House of Jacob “This expression does not occur elsewhere in the Pentateuch. It has a peculiar fitness here, referring doubtless to the special promises made to the patriarch.” Speaker’s Com. The entire address, Exodus 19:3-6, is highly poetic, and may be rendered as follows:

Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob,

And tell to the sons of Israel:

Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians,

And I bore you upon the wings of eagles,

And brought you unto me .

And now, if ye will diligently hear my voice,

And keep my covenant,

Ye shall be to me a precious possession above all the peoples,

For all the earth is mine .

And ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation .