Exode 19:23

23 Moïse dit à l'Eternel: Le peuple ne pourra pas monter sur la montagne de Sinaï, car tu nous en as fait la défense expresse, en disant: Fixe des limites autour de la montagne, et sanctifie-la.

Exode 19:23 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:23

And Moses said unto the Lord
Upon his giving such strict orders both with respect to the people and the priests:

the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai;
suggesting as if there was no need for him to go down on that account, to give them a charge not to break through and gaze; since, as he thought, there was no probability that they ever would attempt it, seeing such a solemn charge had been given, nor any possibility of it, since such a fence was made:

for thou chargedst us, saying, set bounds about the mount, and sanctify
it;
and accordingly bounds have been set, that the people may not go up it, and the place has been declared sacred, that so none will presume to do it, according to the solemn charge that has been given: some ^F1 read the preceding clause by way of interrogation, "may not the people come up to Mount Sinai?" may not any of them? or, if any of them, who may? and there was the greater reason for asking such a question, since the priests that drew near to God might not, and so the next words are conceived to be an answer to it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 So some in Vatablus.

Exode 19:23 In-Context

21 L'Eternel dit à Moïse: Descends, fais au peuple la défense expresse de se précipiter vers l'Eternel, pour regarder, de peur qu'un grand nombre d'entre eux ne périssent.

22 Que les sacrificateurs, qui s'approchent de l'Eternel, se sanctifient aussi, de peur que l'Eternel ne les frappe de mort.

23 Moïse dit à l'Eternel: Le peuple ne pourra pas monter sur la montagne de Sinaï, car tu nous en as fait la défense expresse, en disant: Fixe des limites autour de la montagne, et sanctifie-la.

24 L'Eternel lui dit: Va, descends; tu monteras ensuite avec Aaron; mais que les sacrificateurs et le peuple ne se précipitent point pour monter vers l'Eternel, de peur qu'il ne les frappe de mort.

25 Moïse descendit vers le peuple, et lui dit ces choses.