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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Exodus 19:1 - 19:9
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The Arrival at Sinai and the First Message
v. 1. In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. The greater part of the time since the departure out of Egypt, on the fifteenth day of the first month, had apparently been spent at Elim and at Rephidim, and it was not until the third month that the great army came into the desert of Sinai proper.
v. 2. For they were departed from Rephidim, Exo_17:1, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount, over against the mountain from which the entire range has received its name.
v. 3. And Moses went up unto God, he was on his way to the summit. And the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel. In poetic form the Lord prepares for the statement of the covenant which He here intended to make with the entire people through the person of Moses.
v. 4. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, in punishing them with such terrible plagues, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, which are an image of the strong and affectionate care of God, for the eagle protects and fosters her young with great devotion, and brought you unto myself. The mountain on which the pillar of cloud now rested was to be considered the habitation of the Lord for the time being, the place where He intended to reveal Himself in the covenant which He was about to make with the people.
v. 5. Now, therefore, if ye will obey my voice in deed and keep my covenant, gladly enter into the relation of mercy which the Lord intended to propose, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, a possession to be cherished and guarded most carefully, more than any other nation in the world; for all the earth is Mine, and the sovereign Lord of the universe, who is not a national god, has the right to manifest Himself to a single nation with unusual mercy.
v. 6. And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, kings, in order to conquer the heathen, and priests, in order to serve the living God, and an holy nation, a nation consecrated, set apart, for the service of Jehovah, and therefore under obligation to lead a life of sanctification before Him. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. That was the solemn, welcoming message which the Lord sent to the people whom He had chosen. In this respect the children of Israel were a type of the New Testament Church, the chosen generation, the royal priesthood, the peculiar nation, 1Pe_2:9; for Christ has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, Rev_1:6. As such we should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
v. 7. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, he summoned or invited them, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.
v. 8. And all the people without exception answered together, through their elders, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. They solemnly vowed allegiance and obedience, they took the obligation upon themselves. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.
v. 9. And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, whose darkness would, in a measure, conceal His glory, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. The position of Moses as the receiver and the mediator of the divine revelation would thus be attested, and the revelation and the authority of the Law, as given by him, would be established. The fact that he teaches the Word of the Lord gives to every true preacher his authority to this day. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.