ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Exodus 19

Ex. 19:1–40:38 Covenant at Sinai. The second half of Exodus focuses on the events at Mount Sinai and the content of the law revealed to Moses.

19:1–25 Setting: Sinai. Israel arrives at Mount Sinai, where the rest of the events of Exodus will take place and where the Lord will reveal his covenant through Moses. In ch. 19, the Lord tells Moses how to prepare Israel for his presence at Sinai.

Ex. 19:1–3 When Israel comes to the wilderness of Sinai and camps at the mountain, the Lord’s promise to Moses is fulfilled. He has brought the people out of Egypt and they will “serve God on this mountain” (3:12). On the third new moon means they arrived at Sinai about seven weeks after the exodus.

Ex. 19:4–6 The Lord calls Israel to be faithful to his covenant with them even before he has fully revealed it to them.

Ex. 19:6 When the Lord calls Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, he is referring to what Israel’s life as a whole is to represent among the nations. By keeping the covenant (v. 5), the people of Israel would continue not only to set themselves apart from the surrounding nations but also to mediate the presence and blessing of the Lord to them (see Gen. 12:3; note on Isa. 61:5–7). When Peter applies these terms to the church (1 Pet. 2:5, 9), he is calling believers to faithfulness so that those around them “may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:12).

Ex. 19:10–13 Through the instructions to consecrate the people and to set limits, the Lord is preparing Israel for the worship that will occur in the tabernacle (see 26:31–37). The Hebrew word for “consecrate” means to “set apart as holy.” Moses is to prepare Israel to come before a holy God. wash their garments. Consecration includes changes in daily living (see 19:17).

Ex. 19:15 The instruction to not go near a woman probably includes abstaining from sex as a way of preparing to meet with God (compare Lev. 15:16–18). It does not imply that there is anything inherently unacceptable either in sexual relations or in women.

Ex. 19:16–20 All of these sights and sounds signify the Lord’s presence (v. 18).

Ex. 19:22–24 The reference to the priests precedes the Lord’s instructions that Aaron and his sons will fill that role (see 28:1). If Aaron’s sons are being referred to here, they are grouped with the people who are restricted from coming up on the mountain. break out against them. That is, kill them (compare Lev. 10:1–2; 2 Sam. 6:6–8).