Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. XIX.

1 IN the third month a 1.1 when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day b 1.2 * 1.3 came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai c 1.4, and had pitched in the wilderness, and there Israel camp∣ed before the mount.

3 And * 1.5 Moses went up to God d 1.6: 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:

4 * 1.7 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egypti∣ans, and how I bare you on Eagles wings e 1.8, and brought you unto my self f 1.9.

5 Now * 1.10 therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed g 1.11 and keep my Covenant, then * 1.12 ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me h 1.13 above all people: for * 1.14 all the earth is mine i 1.15.

6 And ye shall be unto me a * 1.16 kingdom of Priests k 1.17, and an holy nation l 1.18. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

7 And Moses came and called for the Elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

8 And * 1.19 all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken, we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD m 1.20.

9 And the LORD said unto Moses, •…•…o, I come unto thee n 1.21 in a thick cloud o 1.22, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and * 1.23 believe thee for ever: and Moses told the words of the people p 1.24 unto the LORD.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto

the people, and Sanctifie them q 1.25 to day; and to morrow, and let them * 1.26 wash their cloaths r 1.27.

11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day s 1.28 the LORD * 1.29 will come down t 1.30 in the sight of all the people, upon mount Sinai.

12 And thou shalt set bounds to the people round about, saying, Take heed to your selves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: * 1.31 whosoever toucheth the mount, shall be surely put to death u 1.32.

13 There shall not a hand touch it x 1.33, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through, whether it be beast y 1.34 or man, it shall not live: when the ‖ 1.35 trumpet soundeth long z 1.36, they shall come up to the mount a 1.37.

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people b 1.38, and they washed their cloaths.

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready a∣gainst the third day, * 1.39 come not at your wives c 1.40.

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were * 1.41 thunders and light∣nings d 1.42, and a thick cloud e 1.43 upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet f 1.44 exceeding loud, so that all the people g 1.45 that was in the camp, trembled.

17 And * 1.46 Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the nether part of the mount h 1.47.

18 And * 1.48 mount Sinai was altogether on a smoak, because the LORD descended upon it in fire i 1.49, and the smoak thereof ascended as the smoak of a furnace, and * 1.50 the whole mount quaked greatly k 1.51.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sound∣ed long, and waxed louder and louder l 1.52, Moses spake, and * 1.53 God answered him by a voice m 1.54.

20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount n 1.55: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount, and Mo∣ses went up.

21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, † 1.56 charge the people, le•…•…t they break through unto the LORD to gaze o 1.57, and many of them perish.

22 And let the Priests p 1.58 also which come near to the LORD q 1.59 sanctifie themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The peo∣ple cannot come up r 1.60 to mount Sinai, for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctifie it.

24 And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the Priests and the people break through, to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Heb. Third new moon, called Sivan, including the latter part of May, and the former part of Iune.
• b 1.2

  Heb. in that day, to wit, when the moneth or new-moon began, and when they departed from Rephidim, to note, that there was no Station be∣tween these two. This is set down thus accurately, because it gives an account of the original of the feast of Pentecost, be∣cause the giving of the Law, which was 3 or 4 days after this time, was 50 days after the Passeover, whereof 46 or 47 were past at their first coming to Sinai, reckoning from the 15th. day of the first moneth, when they came out of Egypt, to this time.
• * 1.3

  Num. 33. 15.
• c 1.4

  (i. e.) To that part of the desert which adjoyned to mount Sinai, as Rephidim, from whence they came, was in that part of the wilderness adjoyning to Horeb, which was another part of the same mountain. See Exod. 17. 6. So they seem to have fetched a large compass and to have come from one side of the mountain to the other.
• * 1.5

  Act. 7. 38.
• d 1.6

  Into the mount of God, to the place where God had now fixed his cloudy pillar, and where he was about to manifest himself in a glorious manner. So it is an anticipation.
• * 1.7

  Deut. 29. 2.
• e 1.8

  (i. e.) safely, out of the reach of danger, and strongly, a∣gainst all opposition. Compare Deut. 32. 11. Isa. 63. 9. Rev. 12. 14.
• f 1.9

  Into my presence and favour and fellowship, to be my peculiar people, to serve and worship me as your onely Lord and King.
• * 1.10

  Deut. 5. 2.
• g 1.11

  Heb. obeying ye will obey, i. e. if ye will obey me sincerely, diligently, and constantly.
• * 1.12

  Deut. 4. 20. 7. 6. an•…•… 14. 2. & 26. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 3•…•…. 8, 9. Psa•…•…. 135. 4. Can•…•…▪ •…•…▪ 12. Isa. 43. 1. Jer. 10. 16. Mal. 3. 17. T•…•…. 2. 14.
• h 1.13

  Highly prized and loved and carefully kept by me, as mens treasures generally are.
• * 1.14

  Deut. 10. 1•…•… Psal. 24. 1.
• i 1.15

  For all people upon earth are mine by creation and dominion, and I can dispose of them all as I please, and either chuse or refuse any of them as I think •…•…t, and therefore though I might refuse you, as well as any others, yet it is my pleasure to sin∣gle you out of all the world, upon whom to confer my chief∣est and peculiar blessings. Or, though all the earth be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by general right, yet you onely are mine by special title 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pri∣viledge.
• * 1.16

  1 Pet. 2. 9. Rev. 1. 6. & •…•… 10. & 20. 6.
• k 1.17

  So they are called in regard, 1. of their exemption and separation from all the people of the world, as Priests are ta∣ken out of the multitude of men. 2. of their consecration to the worship and service of God, every subject of this Kingdom being in some sort a Priest to offer up some kind of sacrifices to God. 3. of their priviledges, because God conferred upon them singular honour, safety and immunity, and liberty of coming near to him, as Priests among all nations have been esteemed priviledged persons.
• l 1.18

  Purged from the Idolatry and other abominations of the heathen world, and separated from them by a wall of partition, allied to me by an holy covenant, and consecrated to my use and service.
• * 1.19

  chap. 24. 3•…•…▪ Deut. 5. 27. and 26. 17.
• m 1.20

  Not for Gods information, but for the peoples greater ob∣ligation, and to learn what answer he should return from God to them.
• n 1.21

  As to the mediatour between me and them and the inter∣preter of my mind to them.
• o 1.22

  See ver. 16. and compare 1 King. 8. 12. 2 Chron. 6. 1.
• * 1.23

  chap. 14. 3•…•…▪
• p 1.24

  Those mentioned ver. 8. This is here repeated, because Gods answer to them now fol∣lows.
• q 1.25

  (i. e.) Command them to sanctifie and cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and to prepare their hearts for the right receiving of my laws and solemn entring into covenant with me. Compare Lev. 11. 45. Ios. 3. 5. and 7. 13.
• * 1.26

  Gen. 35. 2.
• r 1.27

  By which external washing, which was agreeable to that state of the Church, they were taught to cleanse their inward man.
• s 1.28

  From this time, and the fiftieth day from the Passeover, as was noted before.
• * 1.29

  chap. 34. 5. Deut. 33. 2.
• t 1.30

  In a visible and glorious manifestation of his presence.
• * 1.31

  Heb. 12. 22.
• u 1.32

  By this symbolical injunction God designed. 1. to restrain mens curious and bold enquiries into the things of God. 2. to possess the Israelites then present and all succeeding generations with the dread and reverence of the Divine Majesty, and of his holy law. 3. to prepare and inure the people to the obe∣dience of Gods commands, even when they discern not the reasons of them. 4. to make them sensible of their own im∣purity and infirmity, and of their absolute need of a Mediatour through whom they might have access to God. See Gal. 3. 19.
• x 1.33

  (i. e.) The mountain. But 1. This seems to be a gross tautology, for it was twice forbidden in the words next fore∣going. 2. So the word hand would seem to be ascribed both to man and beast. Others therefore render it, touch him, i. e. they shall look upon such an impudent transgressor of my express com∣mand as an abominable person, whom they cannot touch with∣out defilement, and therefore he shall be put to death in such a manner as may be performed without touching him.
• y 1.34

  For though the beasts are not capable of a law, yet they might be threatned for mans caution, and punished for the fault of their owners in not keeping them at a distance from the mount.
• ‖ 1.35

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• z 1.36

  (i. e.) With one continued, equal and gentle sound, as is usual in the end of the Musick-song, which is opposed to a rough and loud and unequal sound. There was no real trum∣pet here, but an Angel made a sound like that of a trumpet.
• a 1.37

  Obj. This was forbidden to them ver. 12. Ans. 1. They were forbidden to come up to the mount whilest God was de∣livering his laws, but allowed it afterwards when that action ceased, which was signified by the long sound of the trumpet. 2. They might not come into the mount or towards the top of it, but they might come to the bottom or lower parts of it, where the bounds were set, or at lest towards or near it, as the Hebrew preposition, beth, is sometimes used. So the mount may be understood more strictly, ver. 12. for an eminent part or top of it, where the thick cloud appeared, and where Moses was, and here more largely for the whole mountain.
• b 1.38

  By commanding them to sanctify themselves, and direct∣ing them how to do it.
• * 1.39

  1 Sam. 21. 4, 5. Zech. 7. 3. 1 Cor. 7. 5.
• c 1.40

  Abstain from the use of the marriage-bed; partly because your wives may haply have their uncleanness upon them though unknown to themselves at lest to you, whereby you may be le∣gally defiled; See Lev. 15. 18. and partly that your minds may be abstracted from all sensual delights and wholely employed about this great and holy work and service. There is a like com∣mand 1 Cor. 7. 5. but both this and that do indifferently con∣cern both ministers and people and are limited to a certain time, and therefore are very impertinently alledged for the perpetual celibacy of Ministers. See also 1 Sam. 21. 5.
• * 1.41

  Heb. 12. 18.
• d 1.42

  Sent partly as evidences and tokens both of Gods glori∣ous presence, and of the anger of God and the dreadful pu∣nishments due to the transgressours of the law now to be deli∣vered, and partly as means to humble and awaken and con∣vince and terrify proud and secure sinners that they might more reverently attend to the words and commands of God▪ more willingly yield obedience to them, and be more afraid of the violation of them.
• e 1.43

  Which was both a▪fit mean for the production and reception of the thunders and lightnings, and a signification as well of the invisible and unconceivable nature of God, as of the obscurity of the legal dispensation in regard of its types and shadows, &c. 2 Cor. 3. 13, 18. and 4. 6.
• f 1.44

  A fit instrument both for the promulgation of Gods law, and for the signification of that war that is between God and sinners.
• g 1.45

  Moses himself not excepted, as appears from Heb. 12. 21.
• * 1.46

  Deut. 4. 10.
• h 1.47

  Therefore one part of the mount they might come to, though not to another, to wit, the higher: which may clear the difficulty and seeming contradiction betwixt ver. 12. and 13.
• * 1.48

  Deut. 4. 11. and 33. 2. Judg. 5. 4. Hab▪ 3. 3.
• i 1.49

  For further terrour to obstinate sinners. Hence this law is called a fiery law. Deut. 33. 2.
• * 1.50

  Heb. 12. 26.
• k 1.51

  By an earthquake, as ap∣pears from Psal. 60. 2. and 104. 32.
• l 1.52

  Heb. went on or increased and grew very strong or vehement or loud. This is opposed to the s•…•…unding long, ver. 13.
• * 1.53

  Neh. 9. 13▪
• m 1.54

  (i. e.) By plain, distinct and audible words, as Psal. 81. 7. Ioh. 12. 29. so as the people also might hear, as appears from ver. 9. See Deut. 5. 24. 1 King. 19▪ 12, 13. Heb. 12. 19.
• n 1.55

  So here are three parts of the mount manifestly distin∣guished, the top, where the cloud was, the middle part, where Moses now stood, and about which the bounds seem to have been put, and the nether or lower part, where the people were.
• † 1.56

  Heb. contest.
• o 1.57

  Through curiosity to know in what form or manner I ap∣pear to thee.
• p 1.58

  For though the Aaronical Priesthood was not yet appoint∣ed, it is certain, that as there were sacrifices before, so there were Priests to offer them, which were either the first born who were consecrated •…•…o God and did execute the office of Priests, as may be gathered from Exod. 13. 2. and 24. 5. Numb. 3. 12. and 8. 26. or some other persons appointed by God for doing that work till the office was settled in Aarons fa∣mily.
• q 1.59

  Not at this time, for both Priests and people are now kept at equal distance, ver. 22. but usually, q. d. whose duty and priviledge it is to approach unto God and to present the peoples prayers and sacrifices to him and therefore are here particularly admonished, because they above all others are ob∣liged to this care, and because they might seem to claim this priviledge by their function.
• r 1.60

  The people are sufficiently admonished in that particular, because as thou didst command this same thing before ver. 12. so I have informed and warned them of it, so that it may seem superfluous for me to go down again to acquaint them herewith. But God who better knew the dulness and the hardness of their hearts than Moses did, saw it necessary to repeat the same command again and again. Some read the words interroga∣tively, Lo for halo; as it is 2 Sam. 13. 26. 2 King. 5. 26. Iob 2. 10. Mal. 2. 15. May not the people (i. e. some of the people, the priests at lest, which, as thou hast now said, may come near to the Lord) go up? Is this an universal prohibition? To this an∣swer is given by a distinction in the next verse, that he and Aa∣ron might come up, but no other.