Exodus 19:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moses guided the people upward, yet he himself, overwhelmed by the sight, dared not gaze upon the visible wonders. Instead, he was filled with deep awe and fear, physically trembling. He did not conceal from the Israelites the distress of his spirit; rather, he openly shared his astonishment at what he perceived and his physical quaking.

The study of theology is akin to a daunting and unreachable mountain, with most individuals only daring to approach its lowly edges.

Moses guided the men away from the group and brought them to the boundary that divided Sinai from the people, so they could encounter God near where He revealed Himself—hidden beneath the mountain. Positioned at the base of the mountain, the people were able to distinctly hear the voice of the Lord proclaiming the Ten Commandments from the summit.

In the beginning of this chapter, we discussed how the commentators describe the arrangement of the Israelite camp, based on the findings of the surveying committee. The people, having undergone ritual purification and ready in spirit, emerge from their tents and kneel in the presence of Mount Sinai, which appears engulfed in fire and smoke to the fearful onlookers.