Exodus 19

Exodus 19:1

IN the third moneth] Or, in the third new Moon. (viz. in the moneth Sivan, Est. 8. 9. containing part of May and part of June) This was the twelfth station or encamping place of the Israelites in the wildernesse, and here (to wit at Sinai) they stayed almost a whole yeare, and hither they came about the fortie fifth day from their coming forth of Egypt, and five dayes after (which was the fiftieth) was the giving of the Law, whereof one or two dayes of entercourse (betwixt God and Moses) might passe, and then he might receive from God the command of three dayes preparation, 5: 11. before the receiving of the Law.

the same day] Not the third day, as it was the third moneth: but the same day that the moneth beginneth, that is, in the first day of the new Moone: for the Hebrewes accompt their moneths by the course of the Moon, and the first day of the new Moon, is the first day of their moneth.

Exodus 19:3

And Moses] Acts 7:38.

and the Lord called] That is, for the Lord had called.

house of Jacob and] God called Jacob Israel, therefore the house of Jacob, and the children of Israel signifie only Gods people. See Annot. on Genesis 32:28.

Exodus 19:4

you have seene] Moses appealeth to their testimony, who were eye witnesses of Gods wonders in Egypt: an argument of certaintie, and assurance of any truth, when they are called to testifie, who were present, and had the best evidence of sense that may be, which is that of the eyes, to confirme their acknowledgement of it.

on Eagles wings] Esa. 63. 9. As the Eagle charily carryeth her young ones on her wings, Deuteronomy 32:11. not in her tallons, for feare of hurting them, and lifting them up on high, above the reach of all that are adverse to her, or to her brood: so the Lord was choice and chary of his people, and carryed them safe above the power of their persecutors. Deuteronomy 32:11-12. Esa. 63. 9.

Exodus 19:5

indeed] Heb. obeying ye obey. That is, carefully, constantly, and throughly, in thought, word and deed: for thoughts or promises of obedience, will not serve: for as God is good indeed, so his people must be obedient indeed.

keepe my Covenant] Deuteronomy 29:9. A covenant is an agreement betwixt two at the least, and requireth mutuall conditions betwixt the Covenant-makers: In this Covenant, the parties are God, and his people; the condition (on Gods part) is to give them deliverance, and inheritance: the condition (on their part) is confidence in him, and obedience to him.

peculiar treasure] Gods people being his peculiar treasure, we must hence learne to value persons, rather by their relations to God, then secular riches, and thinke them very silly, who despise and vilifie those (as meane and worthlesse) on whom God setteth the highest price: and being his peculiar treasure, they should not serve any, but in subordination to him. Psalms 135:4. Malachi 3:17. Deuteronomy 32:8-9. Esa. 43. 1. Jeremiah 10:16. Son 8:12.

above all people] Deuteronomy 10:14-15.

for all the earth is mine] Or, though all the earth be mine Or, Th meaning may be thus: it is in my power, to make election of you for my peculiar people, for all the earth is mine: mine to choose, or refuse as pleaseth my selfe, and all that is on the earth, even the cattell on a thousand hils, Psalms 50:10. yea and all the world is Gods by his right of creation, and of perpetuall preservation. Yet his Church is his by peculiar appropriation to himselfe: as among this people he had his peculiar portion: For first, he had the Israelites for his Nation: secondly, the Levites for his service: thirdly, the first born of cleane creatures for sacrifice: fourthly, the sabbath for time: fifthly, the Tabernacle and Temple for place: sixthly, the tythes for revenue: so to alienate any of these, without his consent, is sacriledge.

Deuteronomy 10:14. Psalms 24:1.

Exodus 19:6

a kingdome of Priests] Revelation 1:6. Or, a royall Priesthood, as 1 Pet. 9. 2. Royall in your overcoming the Canaanites, and ruling over them: and as Priests who are sanctified to my service, and come nearer unto me, then any other of your Tribes; so shall you be an holy people, and be nearer unto me then any other Nation upon earth, Psal. 148. vers. 14.

an holy nation] For the nearer you are unto me, the holier you must be: for I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, Leviticus 10:3. This is a doctrine for the Church at all times: for holinesse becometh Gods house for ever, Psalms 93:5.

Exodus 19:8

all the people] Chap. 24. 37. Deuteronomy 5:17. & Deuteronomy 26:7.

Moses returned the words] Not that God knew not better then Moses, both what the people said, and thought: but because Moses was to be a mediatour betwixt God and them: therefore he must bring Gods word unto them, not to instruct him by them, but to receive his answer to them.

Exodus 19:9

thick cloud] 1 Kings 8:12. 2 Chron. 13. 18. This is not to be understood of the cloud fore-mentioned, Exodus 13:21. & Chap. 14. 19. 24. but that on Mount Sinai, vers. 19. of this Chapter.

Exodus 19:10

sanctifie them] That is, instruct, and enjoyne the people an holy preparation of themselves, for their approach unto God: and teach them to be pure in heart, as they shew themselves outwardly cleane by washing, Hebrews 10:22. for without holinesse, no man shall see God, Hebrews 12:14. much lesse come nigh him: for iniquitie is a wall of separation betwixt God and man, Isaiah 59:2.

wash their clothes] See Annot. on Genesis 35:2.

Exodus 19:11

third day] This day was the fiftieth day from the Passeover, and from the peoples departure out of Egypt: it is by the learned commonly called Pentecost, from the number of fiftie which it signifieth, on which day the Law was given: in our vulgar Language, it is usually termed Whitsunday.

Exodus 19:12

goe not up or touch] Offer not by curiositie or presumption to make nearer approaches towards the Majestie of God, then he permits.

Exodus 19:13

up to the mount] That is, from their tents, they shall drawe neare to the bottome of the hill, vers. 17. but without the bound or border set about it, vers. 12.

beast or man] The beast is threatened or doomed to danger, to keepe man at further distance from danger: so there is mercy in the commination, as it may be a premonition, though severitie in the execution, by stoning the offender neare hand, and by darting at such as were further off.

trumpet] In Hebrew the word is Jobel, so also, Leviticus 25:11. but in Leviticus it signifieth the yeare which giveth libertie, because it was proclaimed with the sound of the Trumpet; this Trumpet might be sounded by an Angel, or such a sound made immediately in the ayre by God himself.

soundeth long] Some straines in this sound, were thick and fast, like a quick pulse, some more deliberately drawne out, wherewith the warning of the peoples approach was made.

Exodus 19:14

sanctified the people] The Lord indeed is he who sanctifieth the people; but Moses is here said to sanctifie them, by shewing them, and prescribing them, how to prepare themselves in a pure and holy manner to meet their God.

Exodus 19:15

come not at your wives] But give yourselves to prayer, and abstinence, that you may at this time attend onely upon the Lord, 1 Corinthians 7:5. The use of the marriage bed was never noted among the legall pollutions: and indeed (being instistuted in the state of innocencie, Gen. 2. and honourable in all, and the bed undefiled, Hebrews 13:4.) this forbearance was not prescribed, as from a thing profane, or uncleane in it selfe: but that the mind might be more fully, and sincerely set upon the holy covenant, to be made with God; and hence the godly that they may be alwaies estranged from things unlawfull, must sometimes abstaine from things lawfull. The Papists who apply this, to be the Priests disavowing of marriage, make an inference as absurd, as if because the people must sometimes at solemne Fasts abstaine from meats, therefore the Clergie must eat no meat at all.

Exodus 19:16

thunders] Deuteronomy 4:11. 1 Samuel 12:18.

Exodus 19:18

• trembled exceedingly] God used these fearefull signes to shew that his Law should be had in very great reverence, and his Majestie the more feared and adored: and if the beginning; or preface before the giving of the Law, were so terrible: how terrible will be end of the Law breaking? Hebrews 12:21. Psal. 68. 7, 8.

Exodus 19:19

by a voyce] He gave answer to Moses by plaine words, and so loud, that the people might heare God speaking unto him. See vers. 20. See Deuteronomy 5. 24. Hebrews 12:19. 1 King. 19. 12, 13.

Exodus 19:20

came downe] He came downe from heaven before, and shewed his glory over Mount Sinai, but now he draweth lower and nearer the people, viz. to the top of the hill, where he speaketh with Moses placed a little below it.

Exodus 19:21

to gaze] 1 Samuel 6:19. Curious prying into the secrets of God, is dangerous to man.

Exodus 19:22

let the Priests] The Priesthood of Aaron, was not yet ordained, therefore the Priests here meant, are such as (un¦der the Law of nature) executed the Priesthood, that is, the first borne, o fathers of Families.

lest the LORD] Levit. 10. 2, 3. A profane Priest is so farre from being a gracious mediatour, betwixt God and the people, (as he should be) that he is more like to derive wrath upon himselfe, then procure favour for them

Exodus 19:24

not the Priests and people] Neither dignitie, nor multitude can allow men to passe the bounds that Gods word prescribeth.