Bible Verse Lookup
Ex 19:16-19
Chapter 19
16
On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud over the mountain, and a thunderous trumpet blast was heard. All the people in the camp trembled.
17
17 Moses then led the people out of the camp to meet God and stand at the foot of the mountain.
18
Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because the Lord had come down in a fire, and the smoke rose as from a furnace. The whole mountain shook violently,
19
while the trumpet’s blast became louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God replied in thunder.
Commentaries
Theophany.
The atmosphere of this story is almost liturgical, radiating a sense of profound transcendence and solemnity. The purification (10s); the exclusivity of the place (12); the thunder, lightning, and thick clouds (16); the smoke, fire (18), and the blowing of a trumpet (19) all emphasize the absolute transcendence of the God who is establishing a covenant with Israel. This distinction sets him apart from any other god. The people cannot face a direct encounter with him; they need a mediator, and that mediator is Moses, chosen by both God and the people (20:19). Through this figure, the writers aim to convey a sense of security and confidence to the believer during the most critical moments in their history, especially when their lives are at risk.