John Calvin Commentary Exodus 19:17

"And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount." — Exodus 19:17 (ASV)

And Moses brought forth the people. We learn from these words that the miraculous signs were not intended to drive the people from God’s sight, nor were they struck with fear to provoke and disgust them with the doctrine; rather, God’s covenant was no less lovely than alarming, for they are commanded to go and “meet God,” presenting themselves with minds ready for obedience. But this could not be unless they heard in the Law something besides precepts and threats. Yet in the smoke and fire, and other signs, some fear was added, in accordance with the role of the Law. This is because the sinner will never be capable of pardon until he learns to tremble from consciousness of his guilt, indeed, until overwhelmed with dread he lies like one dead before the tribunal of God.

In the two following verses, Moses explains what he had briefly touched upon regarding the meeting with God, for he shows that God was near, since His majesty appeared upon the top of Sinai. He adds that he stood within the bounds because he went up by himself alone, and by invitation. He thus clears himself from the accusation of rashness by expressly stating that he passed over the limits assigned to the people, not voluntarily, but at the command and call of God.²¹⁷

It appears from the context itself that the order of the narration is inverted, which the old translator does not perceive, and as a result, distorts the meaning. God’s answering him “by a voice,” means that He spoke aloud and clearly—namely, so that the people might hear, as we shall see later in Deuteronomy 4.

²¹⁷ This sentence is omitted in the Fr. I presume the allusion here is to verse 20, which the . I presume the allusion here is to verse 20, which the V. translates “descendit, and not as . translates “descendit, and not as C., “descenderat.” , “descenderat.” Corn. a Lapide defends the defends the V., with which our., with which our A.V. agrees, conceiving that a still closer descent “in a thicker cloud, and with greater glory,” upon the very top of the mountain, over which the fire had only hovered before, is here described. It may be so; but his reasoning, founded on the word “super,” which is used in both cases, does not prove it.agrees, conceiving that a still closer descent “in a thicker cloud, and with greater glory,” upon the very top of the mountain, over which the fire had only hovered before, is here described. It may be so; but his reasoning, founded on the word “super,” which is used in both cases, does not prove it.