Clarke's Bible Commentary - Exodus 19:1
Verse 1. In the third month] This was called Sivan, and answers to our May. For the Jewish months, years, &c., see the tables at the end of Deuteronomy. The same day] There are three opinions concerning the meaning of this place, which are supported by respectable arguments. 1. The same day means the same day of the third month with that, viz., the 15th, on which the Israelites had left Egypt. 2. The same day signifies here a day of the same number with the month to which it is applied, viz., the third day of the third month. 3. By the same day, the first day of the month is intended. The Jews celebrate the feast of pentecost fifty days after the passover: from the departure out of Egypt to the coming to Sinai were forty-five days; for they came out the fifteenth day of the first month, from which day to the first of the third month forty-five days are numbered. On the 2d day of this third month Moses went up into the mountain, when three days were given to the people to purify themselves; this gives the fourth day of the third month, or the forty-ninth from the departure out of Egypt. On the next day, which was the fiftieth from the celebration of the passover, the glory of God appeared on the mount; in commemoration of which the Jews celebrate the feast of pentecost. This is the opinion of St. Augustine and of several moderns, and is defended at large by Houbigant. As the word dj chodesh, month, is put for new moon, which is with the Jews the first day of the month, this may be considered an additional confirmation of the above opinion.
The wilderness of Sinai.] Mount Sinai is called by the Arabs Jibel Mousa or the Mount of Moses, or, by way of eminence, El Tor, THE Mount. It is one hill, with two peaks or summits; one is called Horeb, the other Sinai. Horeb was probably its most ancient name, and might designate the whole mountain; but as the Lord had appeared to Moses on this mountain in a bush hns seneh, chap. iii. 2, from this circumstance it might have received the name of Sinai or ynys rh har Sinai, the mount of the bush or the mount of bushes; for it is possible that it was not in a single bush, but in a thicket of bushes, that the Angel of God made his appearance. The word bush is often used for woods or forests.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Moses was called up the mountain, and was employed as the messenger of this covenant. The Maker and first Mover of the covenant, is God himself. This blessed charter was granted out of God's own free grace The covenant here mentioned was the national covenant, by which the Israelites were a people under the government of Jehovah. It was a typ of the new covenant made with true believers in Christ Jesus; but, lik other types, it was only a shadow of good things to come. As a natio they broke this covenant; therefore the Lord declared that he woul make a new covenant with Israel, writing his law, not upon tables of stone, but in their hearts, Jer 31:33; Heb 8:7-10. The covenant spoke of in these places as ready to vanish away, is the national covenan with Israel, which they forfeited by their sins. Unless we carefull attend to this, we shall fall into mistakes while reading the Ol Testament. We must not suppose that the nation of the Jews were unde the covenant of works, which knows nothing of repentance, faith in Mediator, forgiveness of sins, or grace; nor yet that the whole natio of Israel bore the character, and possessed the privileges of tru believers, as being actually sharers in the covenant of grace. The were all under a dispensation of mercy; they had outward privileges an advantages for salvation; but, like professing Christians, most reste therein, and went no further. Israel consented to the conditions. The answered as one man, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. Oh tha there had been such a heart in them! Moses, as a mediator, returned the words of the people to God. Thus Christ, the Mediator, as a Prophet reveals God's will to us, his precepts and promises; and then, as Priest, offers up to God our spiritual sacrifices, not only of praye and praise, but of devout affections, and pious resolutions, the wor of his own Spirit in us.
Original Hebrew
בחדשׁ 2320 השׁלישׁי 7992 לצאת 3318 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 מארץ 776 מצרים 4714 ביום 3117 הזה 2088 באו 935 מדבר 4057 סיני׃ 5514
