John Calvin Commentary Exodus 19:12

"And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:" — Exodus 19:12 (ASV)

And thou shalt set bounds. By this symbol the Israelites were admonished to restrain their natural inquisitiveness, so that they might be sober in their desires for knowledge, because God, by the teaching of His Law, only enlightens those who are as “little children.”

We know how great men’s natural curiosity is, how presumptuously they seek to penetrate the secrets of God, how daringly they indulge themselves, and how, by their irreverence, all religion and fear of God is extinguished in them. Therefore, there was good cause why He should set these bounds and restrain this perverse longing for unlawful knowledge.

All would have wished to come, like Moses, into familiar converse with God, but they are commanded to stand within the boundaries so that they may obey God speaking to them by an interpreter. Thus are their modesty and docility proved, when they desire no more than is permitted them and keep themselves within the bounds of revelation.

What was then enjoined upon His ancient people also extends to us, so that in reading and hearing we should not go beyond the limits which God assigns us. Content with the form of doctrine which He delivers to us, we should leave alone what He would have concealed from us; and, although He speaks to us from a distance, we should not be offended by that distance.

Yet He does not prohibit the people from ascending as though He begrudged them a nearer prospect of His glory. Rather, it is because it is expedient that the proud and improperly arrogant should be kept within this narrow limit, so that they may be reminded of their weakness. To alarm them still more, He commands that the men themselves,²¹⁴ and even beasts, though harmless, should be killed if they crossed over the borders.

We have previously explained what is meant by God’s descending—namely, the manifestation of His power, since His essence, which fills heaven and earth, does not move from its place.

²¹⁴ “Or, pour plus estonner les hommes, il commande que les bestes memes,” etc.; now, to alarm men more, He commands that even the beasts. etc. — Fr..