Exodus 19:16

16 And it cometh to pass, on the third day, while it is morning, that there are voices, and lightnings, and a heavy cloud, on the mount, and the sound of a trumpet very strong; and all the people who [are] in the camp do tremble.

Exodus 19:16 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:16

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning,
&c:] The sixth of the month, according to the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi; on which day, as the Jews generally say ^F20, the law was given, and which, they also observe, was a sabbath day: yea, they are sometimes so very particular as to fix the hour of the day, and say ^F21, it was the sixth hour of the day, or twelve o'clock at noon, that Israel received the decalogue, and at the ninth hour, at three o'clock in the afternoon, returned to their stations:

there were thunders, and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount;
which were to awaken the attention of the people to what they were to hear and receive, and to strike their minds with an awe of the divine Being; and to add to the solemnity of the day, and the service of it; and to signify the obscurity and terror of the legal dispensation, and the wrath and curse that the transgressors the law might expect, even an horrible tempest of divine vengeance, see ( Hebrews 12:18 )

and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud;
or, "exceeding strong" {w}; being blown by the mighty angels, and by ten thousand them, with whom the Lord now descended:

so that all the people that was in the camp trembled,
at the sound of it, it was so loud and terrible, and it so pierced their ears and their hearts: a different effect the Gospel trumpet the jubilee trumpet, the joyful sound of love, grace, and mercy, has upon sensible sinners, and on true believers: the law with its curses terrifies, the Gospel with its blessings comforts.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 86. 2. & Yoma, fol. 4. 2. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 5. p. 18.
F21 Pirke Eliezer, c. 46.
F23 (dam qzx) "fortis valde", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so Ainsworth.

Exodus 19:16 In-Context

14 And Moses cometh down from the mount unto the people, and sanctifieth the people, and they wash their garments;

15 and he saith unto the people, `Be ye prepared for the third day, come not nigh unto a woman.'

16 And it cometh to pass, on the third day, while it is morning, that there are voices, and lightnings, and a heavy cloud, on the mount, and the sound of a trumpet very strong; and all the people who [are] in the camp do tremble.

17 And Moses bringeth out the people to meet God from the camp, and they station themselves at the lower part of the mount,

18 and mount Sinai [is] wholly a smoke from the presence of Jehovah, who hath come down on it in fire, and its smoke goeth up as smoke of the furnace, and the whole mount trembleth exceedingly;