Exodus 19:21
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and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This chapter introduces the solemnity of the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, which was one of the most striking appearances of the divine glory that ever was in this lower world. We have here, I. The circumstances of time and place (Exo 19:1, Exo 19:2). II. The covenant between God and Israel settled in general. The gracious proposal God made to them (Exo 19:3-6), and their consent to the proposal (Exo 19:7, Exo 19:8). III. Notice given three days before of God's design to give the law out of a thick cloud (Exo 19:9). Orders given to prepare the people to receive the law (Exo 19:10-13), and care taken to execute those orders (Exo 19:14, Exo 19:15). IV. A terrible appearance of God's glory upon mount Sinai (Exo 19:16-20). V. Silence proclaimed, and strict charges given to the people to observe decorum while God spoke to them (Exo 19:21, etc.).
Open source ↗19:21-25 The repeated warnings that no one should break through to approach the Lord reinforced the impact of the phenomena the people had just witnessed. God is utterly transcendent, and he must be approached in the way he ordains or not at all.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.