Verse 2
2. The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from Mount Paran These expressions do not refer to different appearances of Jehovah, but to that signal manifestation of himself at the giving of the law. The language is highly poetical. It is as though Moses saw the glory of Jehovah shine forth from the lofty heights of Sinai to the heights of Edom on the east and to the mountains of Paran, which form the boundary of the desert, on the north. “The glory of the Lord who appeared upon Sinai sent its beams even to the eastern and northern extremities of the desert.” Keil. Comp. Judges 5:4-5, and Habakkuk 3:3.
And he came with ten thousands of saints Literally, from myriads of holiness. The expression is meant to describe Jehovah leaving his heavenly abode, where he dwells surrounded by holy ones, and coming down to announce the law to his people.
From his right hand went a fiery law for them Our English version here follows the Vulgate. As the Hebrew reads, the literal rendering would be fire of law, a fire which was a law for them. Gesenius thinks it would be better referred to the pillar of fire, (Exodus 13:21,) which was as a law to direct them, than to the lightnings which Jehovah employs for his servants. Some Hebrew manuscripts write אשׁ דת as one word. If this reading should be accepted it might be rendered so as to refer to flashes of lightning. Comp. Habakkuk 3:4.
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