Exodus 19:18

18 The mount of Sina was altogether on a smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire; and the smoke went up as the smoke of a furnace, and the people were exceedingly amazed.

Exodus 19:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 19:18

And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke
Not from nature, as volcanos, but for a reason after given; it seemed to be one large body of smoke, nothing else to be seen but smoke; an emblem of the darkness of the legal dispensation, which was full of obscure types and figures, of dark shadows and smoky sacrifices, to which the clear day, of the Gospel dispensation is opposed, see ( 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 )

because the Lord descended upon it in fire;
in flaming fire, as the Targums, which set the mountain on fire, and caused this prodigious smoke; for if he, who is a consuming fire, but toucheth the hills and mountains, they smoke, ( Psalms 104:32 )

and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace
such an one as that which Abraham in vision saw, ( Genesis 15:17 )

and the whole mount quaked greatly;
to which circumstance Deborah refers in her song, when she speaks of mountains melting and flowing from before the presence of the God of Israel, and particularly of Sinai, ( Judges 5:4 Judges 5:5 ) , and the psalmist, who makes mention of the earth shaking, and the heavens dropping, and of Sinai being moved at his presence, ( Psalms 68:8 ) , it is probable there was an earthquake at this time, which sometimes attends thunders and lightnings, see ( Revelation 16:18 ) .

Exodus 19:18 In-Context

16 And it came to pass on the third day, as the morning drew nigh, there were voices and lightnings and a dark cloud on mount Sina: the voice of the trumpet sounded loud, and all the people in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses led the people forth out of the camp to meet God, and they stood by under the camp.

18 The mount of Sina was altogether on a smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire; and the smoke went up as the smoke of a furnace, and the people were exceedingly amazed.

19 And the sounds of the trumpet were waxing very much louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.

20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sina on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.