Exodus 19

2 the desert of Sinai. Probably either Wady esh Sheikh, or Wady Fciran. Here the Israelites remained nearly a year.

3 the Lord called. The beginning of those transactions between God and the chosen nation, called the Covenant of Sinai; by which God became their King, establishing a theocracy, typical of the spiritual dominion of the future Messiah. On God’s part, it began with a reference to the recent deliverance (ver. 4), and with promises of future blessings, as reasons for their obedience (ver. 5); which they, on their part, promised (ver. 8). Upon this, a solemn assembly was called (ver. 10); a summary of the Law was given, first orally (xx.), then through Moses (xx. 22-xxiii. 33); and the covenant was ratified, first with blood (xxiv. 6), and then by a Divine vision, and a sacred feast (vers. 9-11). After this, Moses twice ascended the mountain to meet God; and went often into “the tabernacle of the congregation” (the Tent of Meeting) to receive His instructions.

4. I bare you on eagles’ wings. Alluding to the eagle’s care for her young. Cp. Deut. xxxii. 11. The words “I bare you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself” are inscribed on the monument on the Thames Embankment to the officers and men of the Royal Air Force who fell in the War of 1914-1918.

5. My covenant. The Jews, as a nation, broke this covenant; and God afterwards promised to make with them a new and better covenant: see Jer. xxxi. 33; xxxii. 40; Heb. viii. 7-10. This national covenant must be distinguished from that covenant of grace, the blessings of which are personal, and limited to true believers.—all the earth is Mine. This assertion of Jehovah’s sovereignty over the whole earth would guard the Israelites against the heathen notion that He was merely a national deity, whose dominion is confined to His own peculiar people and their land.

6 kingdom of priests. A sacred kingdom, all the subjects of which are “priests,” separated from all pollution, for the service of Jehovah, their invisible King. See 1 Pet. ii. 9; Rev. i. 6.

12 up into the mount. Rather, as in ver. 13, “up to the mountain.” The people were not to approach the mountain during their three days of preparation; but as soon as the trumpet gave the signal they were to go up to the foot of the mountain (ver. 17); but even then not to pass the bounds (ver. 21).

19. Moses spake. Saying, “I exceedingly fear and quake” (Heb. xii. 21). The allusion to this awfully anguish scene in Heb. xii. 18-24 shows how far the sublimest material display of the power of Jehovah is surpassed by the spiritual glory of the gospel. Its effect upon the minds of the people is described in Deut. v. 24-28; xviii. 16.

22 priests. Probably the chiefs of families, who, in patriarchal times, discharged the duties of priests.