Heb 12:18. Οὐ γὰρ) The reason why they ought to obey this whole exhortation, which has been derived from the priesthood of Christ, because the salvation is more immediately at hand and the vengeance is more nearly at hand. Comp. ch. Heb 2:1, etc.-προσεληλύθατε) Deu 4:11, LXX., καὶ προσήλθετε καὶ ἔστητε ὑπὸ τὸ ὄρος, καὶ τὸ ὄρος ἐκαίετο πυρὶ ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· σκύτος, γνόφος, θύελλα.-ψηλαφωμένῳ) which was touched, by God, so that the whole was put in commotion (was shaken by an earthquake), Heb 12:26; Psa 104:32; Psa 144:5, and was to be touched meanwhile by no man or brute, Heb 12:20. So ψηλαφᾷν, to touch, is used in Jdg 16:26. The mountain was touched at that one time; but GOD’S eternal habitation is described in Heb 12:22.-ὄρει, to the mount) The name of Sinai is elegantly passed over in silence, whereas Sion is mentioned.-κεκαυμένῳ πυρὶ, to the fire which burned) [But Engl. Vers., that burned with fire].-καὶ γνόφῳ καὶ σκότῳ, and to mist [blackness] and darkness) Ephraim Syrus, f. 85, ed. Oxon., says, “There is no light without fire, nor darkness (σκότος) without blackness or mist (γνόφος).” Whence the strict meaning of the words is evident.[78] We have already seen that the LXX. use the same expressions: ζόφος is a synonym of ΓΝΌΦΟς.
[78] Γνόφος is the Germ. dunkelheit, gloom, or mist. It is related to σκότος, darkness, Germ. finsterniss, as fire is to the light. Γνόφος or ζόφος, mist, is the cause or embodiment of the σκότος. So ζόφος τοῦ σκότους, mist of darkness, 2Pe 2:17.-ED.