Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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He is called up into a cloud on the seventh day, probably on the sabbath day, Ex 24:16. Now, the thick cloud opened in the sight of all Israel, and the glory of the Lord broke forth like devouring fire, Ex 24:17. God, even our God, is a consuming fire, and so he was pleased to manifest himself in the giving of the law, that, knowing the terrors of the Lord, we may be persuaded to obey, and may by them be prepared for the comforts of the gospel, and that the grace and truth which come by Jesus Christ may be the more acceptable.
17 And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on
the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into
the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
The entrance of Moses into the cloud was very wonderful: Moses went into the midst of the cloud, Ex 24:18. It was an extraordinary presence of mind which the grace of God furnished him with by his six days' preparation, else he durst not have ventured into the cloud, especially when it broke out in devouring fire. Moses was sure that he who called him would protect him; and even those glorious attributes of God which are most terrible to the wicked the saints with a humble reverence rejoice in. He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly, is able to dwell even with this devouring fire, as we are told, Isa 33:14,15. There are persons and works that will abide the fire, 1Co 3:12, &c., and some that will have confidence before God.
His continuance in the cloud was no less wonderful; he was there forty days and forty nights. It should seem, the six days (Ex 24:16) were not part of the forty; for, during those six days, Moses was with Joshua, who did eat of the manna, and drink of the brook, mentioned, De 9:21, and while they were together it is probable that Moses did eat and drink with him; but when Moses was called into the midst of the cloud he left Joshua without, who continued to eat and drink daily while he waited for Moses's return, but thenceforward Moses fasted. Doubtless God could have said what he had now to