Exodus 19:19

19 And the sound of the trumpet grew by degrees louder and louder, and was drawn out to a greater length: Moses spoke, and God answered him.

Exodus 19:19 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:19

And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long
Not in one continued tone, as before, ( Exodus 19:13 ) , where a different word is used, and when it decreased, and was about to cease, which was to summon the people to attend; but now they were come to the foot of the mount, and this sounding was a preparation to the giving of the law unto them, and was not one continued even tone: but waxed louder and louder; or, "going, and exceeding strong"; or, "strengthening itself exceedingly" ^F24; it went on to an high pitch, until it was exceeding vehement and strong, and so sonorous as scarce to be bore:

Moses spake;
what he said is not here recorded; it is highly probable, as has been observed by some, that he uttered those words related of him in ( Hebrews 12:21 ) "I exceedingly fear and quake": such an impression did this loud and strong voice of the trumpet make upon him:

and God answered him by a voice;
a still and gentle one, in order to encourage and comfort him; and so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,

``with a pleasant and audible voice, and with delightful words.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (dam qzxw Klwh) (probainousai iscuroterai sfodra) , Sept. "iens et fortificans se valde", Montanus; "roborans se", Vatablus; "quum pergeret et invalesceret valde", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Exodus 19:19 In-Context

17 And when Moses had brought them forth to meet God, from the place of the camp, they stood at the bottom of the mount.

18 And all Mount Sinai was on a smoke: because the Lord was come down upon it in fire, and the smoke arose from it as out of a furnace: and all the mount was terrible.

19 And the sound of the trumpet grew by degrees louder and louder, and was drawn out to a greater length: Moses spoke, and God answered him.

20 And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, in the very top of the mount, and he called Moses unto the top thereof. And when he was gone up thither,

21 He said unto him: Go down, and charge the people; lest they should have a mind to pass the limits to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them should perish.