Ver. 1. Worship ye afar off.] Thus under the law; but now by grace we draw nigh with boldness, and “have access with confidence by the faith of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:12) [See Trapp on “Eph 3:12”]
Ver. 2. But they shall not come nigh.] But half-way only. (Exodus 24:2) [See Trapp on “Ex 19:12”]
Ver. 3. And told the people,] So he became a Mediator (Galatians 3:19) — non redemptionis sed relationis. Will we do.] God’s people are “willing.” (Psalms 110:3) But “weak through the flesh.” (Romans 8:3) [See Trapp on “Heb 13:18”]
Ver. 4. An altar.] Representing God on the one party, as the twelve pillars did the people on the other party. So here was a formal covenant.
Ver. 5. Young men.] The firstborn of the families. (Exodus 13:2)
Ver. 6. Half of the blood.] Having mingled it first with water (Hebrews 9:19) See 1 John 5:6, [See Trapp on “1Jo 5:6”]
Ver. 7. Will we do, and be obedient.] Christ will enjoy his spouse’s love by a willing contract, not by a ravishment.
Ver. 8. On the people.] The representative people, the elders: or, as others will, the twelve pillars. [See Trapp on “Ex 24:4”]
Ver. 9. And seventy of the elders.] [See Trapp on “Ex 24:2”]
Ver. 10. And they saw the God of Israel.] A glimpse of his glory. [See Trapp on “1Ti 6:16”] As it were a paved work of sapphire stone.] To show that God had now changed their condition, their bricks, made in their bondage, to sapphire. Compare Isaiah 54:11.
Ver. 11. He laid not his hand,] i.e., They came off without hurt; which is reckoned as a great mercy: since no man, ordinarily, can see God and live: besides the infinite distance that is betwixt God and the greatest nobles. And did eat and drink,] i.e., They were much cheered, and made merry in the Lord. Others sense it thus:—Though they had seen God, yet they turned again to temporal pleasures; they soon after ate and drank at that idolatrous feast of the golden calf, and rose up to play. It is set as an aggravation of Solomon’s sin, that he departed from God “that appeared unto him twice.” (1 Kings 11:9)
Ver. 12. Tables of stone.] To show, (1.) The stony hardness of the people’s hearts; (2.) The lastingness of the law.
Ver. 13. And Moses went up.] Joshua stayed the while in some convenient place.
Ver. 14. And Hur.] [See Trapp on “Ex 17:10”]
Ver. 15. And Moses went up into the mount.] But he went not yet into the cloud, as Exodus 24:18, till the seventh day, that he might, by degrees, be heavenlised, and edged with an earnest expectation of beholding God’s glory, and understanding his will. This was heaven beforehand.
Ver. 16. Six days.] The people had but three days of preparation to receive the law; Moses hath six. Singular holiness is required of ministers: the measures of the sanctuary were double to the ordinary, as the shekel, cubit, &c. Ministers had need wish, as Elisha did, a doubled and trebled spirit, that they may save themselves and those that hear them. (1 Timothy 4:16)
Ver. 17. Was like devouring fire.] So it is still; (Hebrews 12:29) which so terrifieth the sinners in Zion, that they run away with these words in their mouths, “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isaiah 33:14)
Ver. 18. Forty days.] All which time he never ate nor drank, (Deuteronomy 9:9) and so better merited the surname of Nesteutes, the faster, than that proud prelate John, Bishop of Constantinople.