1 In the third month (in the 50th day from Rameses), when the sons of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. (Compare this 50 days with Pentecost after Christ's crucifixion which is for us today our passover.)
2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
3 And Moses went up to God (Heb. ha-’Elohim = Supreme God. Moses' first ascent. See note below), and the Lord called (the only occ. of this expression in Exodus. In 3:4 it is "Elohim called") to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the house of Israel;
It will be seen that we have here the first occurrence of this expression, and the first six ascents and descents of Moses to receive and give His [God's] Laws and ordinances. The following is a summary:-
The 4th an 6th ascents are the fullest, and receive special expansion.
Ascents Descents
19:3-6. 1st 19:7,8.
19:-8-13. 2nd 19:14-19.
19:20-24. 3rd 19:25.
24:9-32:14. 4th 32:15-30.
32:31-33. 5th 32:34-34:3.
34:4-28. 6th 34:29-35.
Note that the two sets of three each are marked by the two great events: the giving of the Law, and the setting up of the Tabernacle; while the 4th and 6th ascents are marked by the giving of the first and second tables.
4 'You all have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings (cp. Deut. 32:11,12), and brought you to Myself. (Just as a mother eagle swoops under one of her young that begins to falter, God took care of and protected the children of Israel as they come out of Egypt.)
5 Now therefore, if you all will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you all shall be a peculiar
treasure (A treasure acquired for a possession. Cp. 1 Chron. 29:3. Ecc. 2:8. 1 Pet. 2:9. Heb. segullah. First occ. Eight times: 19:5 and Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18. Ps. 135:4. Mal. 3:17, where it is used of Israel; and in 1 Chron. 29:3 and Ecc. 7:8, where it is used of purchased and personnel property. It denotes a treasure reserved for one's self. The Lat. sigillo, to seal up, is from the Heb. word. Cp. Matt. 13:44) to me above all Peoples: for all the earth is Mine: (Cp. Ps. 24:1; 50:12. God owns everything, and He wants to share it with His children that serve Him. God has a message He wants carried to all of His children that will listen. Can Father count on you? If He can, you are a peculiar treasure.)
God's People:-
A separated People. Ex.33:16.
A People of inheritance. Deut.4:20.
A special People. Deut.7:6.
A purchased People. Ex.15:16; Ps.74:2.
A holy People. Deut.7:6; 14:1.
A redeemed People. Ex.15:13.
A sanctified People. Isa.63:18.
6 And you all shall be to Me a kingdom of priests (not the genitive of character, which would be priestly kingdom. But the Fig. Antiptosis = "a royal priesthood", as explained in 1 Pet. 2:9. The whole nation being a priest with respect to other nations, as the tribe of Levi for Israel. Now in abeyance, because Israel did not fulfill the condition in v.5. But in the future it will be realized-Isa.61:6; 66:21), and an holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the house of Israel." (We are a nation under God. This nation is not the super power of super powers by accident. This nation receives the blessings of God. Do your part to ensure this nation continues to serve God and receive His blessings.)
7 And Moses came (Moses' first descent) and called for the elders of the People, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do."
And Moses returned (Moses' second ascent) the words of the People to the Lord.
9 And the Lord said to Moses, "Lo, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the People may hear when I
speak with you, and believe you forever." (Cp. Rom.10:7. "Faith comes by hearing.") And Moses told the words of the People to the Lord.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the People, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their
clothes,
11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the People upon mount Sinai.
12 And you shall set bounds to the people round about, saying, "Take heed to yourselves, that you all go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death:
13 There shall not an hand touch it (= him, i.e. not arrested or seized lest trespass on mount incurred), but he shall surely be stoned (cp. Gen. 26:28), or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live:' when the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount."
14 And Moses went down (second descent) from the mount to the People, and sanctified the People; and they washed their clothes.
18th Sivan
15 And he said to the People, "Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives."
19th Sivan
16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the People that was in the camp
trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the People out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the lower part of the mount.
18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. (Heb. denotes repeated speaking, and thus tells us how the next and following chapters were given to Moses)
25 So Moses went down (Moses' third descent) to the People, and repeated these things to the People.