Exodus 19
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In the third month - This was called Sivan, and answers to our May. For the Jewish months, years, etc. The same day - There are three opinions concerning the meaning of this place, which are supported by respectable arguments. 1. The same day means the same day of the third month with that, viz., the 15th, on which the Israelites had left Egypt. 2. The same day signifies here a day of the same number with the month to which it is applied, viz., the third day of the third month. 3. By the same day, the first day of the month is intended. The Jews celebrate the feast of pentecost fifty days after the passover: from the departure out of Egypt to the coming to Sinai were forty-five days; for they came out the fifteenth day of the first month, from which day to the first of the third month forty-five days are numbered. On the 2d day of this third month Moses went up into the mountain, when three days were given to the people to purify themselves; this gives the fourth day of the third month, or the forty-ninth from the departure out of Egypt. On the next day, which was the fiftieth from the celebration of the passover, the glory of God appeared on the mount; in commemoration of which the Jews celebrate the feast of pentecost. This is the opinion of St. Augustine and of several moderns, and is defended at large by Houbigant. As the word חדש chodesh, month, is put for new moon, which is with the Jews the first day of the month, this may be considered an additional confirmation of the above opinion. The wilderness of Sinai - Mount Sinai is called by the Arabs Jibel Mousa or the Mount of Moses, or, by way of eminence, El Tor, The Mount. It is one hill, with two peaks or summits; one is called Horeb, the other Sinai. Horeb was probably its most ancient name, and might designate t…
Open source ↗ARRIVAL AT SINAI. (Exo. 19:1-25) In the third month--according to Jewish usage, the first day of that month--"same day."--It is added, to mark the time more explicitly, that is, forty-five days after Egypt--one day spent on the mount (Exo 19:3), one returning the people's answer (Exo 19:7-8), three days of preparation, making the whole time fifty days from the first passover to the promulgation of the law. Hence the feast of pentecost, that is, the fiftieth day, was the inauguration of the Old Testament church, and the divine wisdom is apparent in the selection of the same reason for the institution of the New Testament church (Joh 1:17; Act 2:1).
Open source ↗In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt,.... Which was the month Sivan, and answers to part of May and part of June: the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai; which had its name from the mountain situated in it, and that from the bushes which grew upon it. Justin (z) calls it Synan, which he says Moses occupied, and Strabo (a), Sinnan. Hither they came either on the same day they came from Rephidim; which, according to Bunting (b), were eight miles from it, or on the same day of the month, as to number, that is, on the third day of the third month; and so Jerom (c) and others say it was on the forty seventh day after their coming out of Egypt, three days after which they received the law on Mount Sinai, it being a generally received notion that the law was given fifty days after the passover; hence the feast of weeks is called from thence the feast of pentecost, or fifty days: or rather this was the first day of the month, as Jarchi and R. Moses; with which agrees the Targum of Jonathan; and so was the forty fifth of their coming out of Egypt, five days after which they received the law; it being a tradition with the Jews, as Aben Ezra observes, that that was given on the sixth of Sivan, and may be accounted for thus; on the first day they came to Sinai, and encamped there, on the day following Moses went up to God, Exo 19:3, on the third day Moses gathered the elders together, Exo 19:7, and declared to them the words of God, and on the third day after that, which was the sixth, the law was delivered to them. (z) E Trogo, l. 36. c. 2. (a) Geograph. l. 16. p. 520. (b) Travels, p. 82. (c) Epist. Fabiolae de 42 mansion. fol. 15. c. 1. tom. 3.
Open source ↗In the third month after their departure from Egypt, the Israelites arrived at Sinai, proceeding from Rephidim into the desert of Sinai, and encamping there before the mountain. On what day of the month, the received text does not state. The striking expression הזּה בּיּום ("the same day"), without any previous notice of the day, cannot signify the first day of the month; nor can השּׁלישׁי החדשׁ signify the third new moon in the year, and be understood as referring to the first day of the third month. For although, according to the etymology of חדשׁ (from חדשׁ to be new), it might denote the new moon, yet in chronological data it is never used in this sense; but the day of the month is invariably appended after the month itself has been given (e.g., לחדשׁ אחד Exo 40:2, Exo 40:17; Gen 8:5, Gen 8:13; Num 1:1; Num 29:1; Num 33:38, etc.). Moreover, in the Pentateuch the word חדשׁ never signifies new moon; but the new moons are called חדשׁים ראשׁי (Num 10:10; Num 28:11, cf. Hengstenberg, Dissertations, vol. ii. 297). And even in such passages as Sa1 20:5; Sa1 18:24; Kg2 4:23; Amo 8:5; Isa 1:13, etc., where חדשׁ is mentioned as a feast along with the Sabbaths and other feasts, the meaning new moon appears neither demonstrable nor necessary, as חדשׁ in this case denotes the feast of the month, the celebration of the beginning of the month. If, therefore, the text is genuine, and the date of the month has not dropt out (and the agreement of the ancient versions with the Masoretic text favours this conclusion), there is no other course open, than to understand יום, as in Gen 2:4 and Num 3:1, and probably also in the unusual expression החדשׁ יום, Exo 40:2, in the general sense of time; so that here, and also in Num 9:1; Num 20:1, the month only is given, and not the day of the mo…
Open source ↗Here is, I. The date of that great charter by which Israel was incorporated. 1. The time when it bears date (Exo 19:1) - in the third month after they came out of Egypt. It is computed that the law was given just fifty days after their coming out of Egypt, in remembrance of which the feast of Pentecost was observed the fiftieth day after the passover, and in compliance with which the Spirit was poured out upon the apostles at the feast of pentecost, fifty days after the death of Christ. In Egypt they had spoken of a three days' journey into the wilderness to the place of their sacrifice (Exo 5:3), but it proved to be almost a two months' journey; so often are we out in the calculation of times, and things prove longer in the doing than we expected. 2. The place whence it bears date - from Mount Sinai, a place which nature, not art, had made eminent and conspicuous, for it was the highest in all that range of mountains. Thus God put contempt upon cities, and palaces, and magnificent structures, setting up his pavilion on the top of a high mountain, in a waste and barren desert, there to carry on this treaty. It is called Sinai, from the multitude of thorny bushes that overspread it. II. The charter itself. Moses was called up the mountain (on the top of which God had pitched his tent, and at the foot of which Israel had pitched theirs), and was employed as the mediator, or rather no more than the messenger of the covenant: Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel, Exo 19:3. Here the learned bishop Patrick observes that the people are called by the names both of Jacob and Israel, to remind them that those who had lately been as low as Jacob when he went to Padan-aram had now grown as great as God made him when he came thence (justly enric…
Open source ↗19:1-9 God prepared his people to receive the covenant by first reminding them of the past and of what they had learned about him (19:4). He then made promises concerning the future, which were contingent upon obedience (19:5-6). The final result was their promise to obey what the Lord has commanded (19:8). 19:1 Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt: It was now the fifteenth day of the third month.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshîy, H7992) — third; feminine athird (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a… חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… סִינַי (Çîynay, H5514) — Sinai, mountain of Arabia
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney רְפִידִים (Rᵉphîydîym, H7508) — Rephidim, a place in the Desert בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… סִינַי (Çîynay, H5514) — Sinai, mountain of Arabia חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative נֶשֶׁר (nesher, H5404) — the eagle (or other large bird of prey) כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) סְגֻלָּה (çᵉgullâh, H5459) — wealth (as closely shut up) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗מַמְלָכָה (mamlâkâh, H4467) — dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm) כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… זָקֵן (zâqên, H2205) — old עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) עָב (ʻâb, H5645) — properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a… עָנָן (ʻânân, H6051) — a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מָחָר (mâchâr, H4279) — properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely,… כָּבַס (kâbaç, H3526) — to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal… שִׂמְלָה (simlâh, H8071) — a dress, especially a mantle
Open source ↗כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshîy, H7992) — third; feminine athird (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) סִינַי (Çîynay, H5514) — Sinai, mountain of Arabia
Open source ↗גָּבַל (gâbal, H1379) — properly, to twist as arope; to bound (as by a line) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) נָגַע (nâgaʻ, H5060) — properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with… קָצֶה (qâtseh, H7097) — an extremity מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נָגַע (nâgaʻ, H5060) — properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with… סָקַל (çâqal, H5619) — properly, to be weighty; but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if… אוֹ (ʼôw, H176) — desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if יָרָה (yârâh, H3384) — properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an… בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) אִם (ʼim, H518) — used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if,… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive יוֹבֵל (yôwbêl, H3104) — the blast of a horn (from its continuous sound); specifically, the signal of the silver… מָשַׁךְ (mâshak, H4900) — to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong,… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) כָּבַס (kâbaç, H3526) — to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal… שִׂמְלָה (simlâh, H8071) — a dress, especially a mantle
Open source ↗Cross-references
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On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai.
You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.
“This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year.
They set out from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.