Exodus 20:22

Instructions for Building Altars

22 And Yahweh said to Moses, "Thus you will say to the {Israelites}, 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from the heavens.

Exodus 20:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 20:22

And the Lord said unto Moses
When Moses was come near the thick darkness where God was:

thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel;
at his return unto them, and which he was to deliver in the name of God, and as his words:

ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven;
descending from heaven on Mount Sinai in a cloud and fire, he talked with them out of the cloud and fire, and delivered to them with an audible voice the above ten commands; the cloud and fire they saw with their eyes, and the words expressed from thence they heard with their ears; or heaven may mean the air on the top of Sinai, from whence Jehovah spoke.

Exodus 20:22 In-Context

20 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you so that his fear will be before you so that you do not sin."

21 And the people stood at a distance, and Moses approached the very thick cloud where God was.

22 And Yahweh said to Moses, "Thus you will say to the {Israelites}, 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from the heavens.

23 You will not make alongside me gods of silver, and gods of gold you will not make for yourselves.

24 An altar of earth you will make for me, and you will sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered, I will come to you, and I will bless you.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"