Exodus 19:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As the cloud lingered in the same location, guiding the people on their journey, it became essential for them to remain where they were, as there was no one to direct them to a new destination. They enjoyed the comforts of existence without any toil: the sky above showered them with sustenance, while the rock beneath supplied them with water. The cloud spared them from the discomforts of changing weather, providing shade from the sun during the day and illuminating the night with its fiery glow.

In chapter 16, note 1, a concise overview of recent explorations in the Sinai Peninsula reveals that the peak of Raz-Sufsafeh is acknowledged as the location where the law was proclaimed. Raz-Sufsafeh is the western granite elevation of the mountain known as Horeb, which the Israelites approached from its eastern side and from where the life-giving spring emerged. To the north of the granite slope of Raz-Sufsafeh lies the expansive plain of Er-Rahah, identified as the desert of Sinai; this area could easily accommodate the entire camp of Israel. Furthermore, to the northeast, a wider gorge known as Wadi ed-Deir runs at an angle towards the sacred summit of Sinai, encompassing the entire eastern incline of the Sinai range.