Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 19:8
And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
All that the Lord … – By this answer the people accepted the covenant. It was the preliminary condition of their complete admission into the state of a royal priesthood.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. And all the people answered, c.] The people, having such gracious advantages laid before them, most cheerfully consented to take God for their portion as he had graciously promised to take them for his people. Thus a covenant was made, the parties being mutually bound to each other.
Moses returned the words] When the people had on their part consented to the covenant, Moses appears to have gone immediately up to the mountain and related to God the success of his mission; for he was now on the mount, as appears from Ex 19:14.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Not for Gods information, but for the peoples greater obligation, and to learn what answer he should return from God to them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And all the people answered together,…. By their heads and representatives, the elders, summoned before Moses, to whom he declared the whole will of God; or this being communicated by them to their respective tribes and families, they were all of one mind; there was not a contradicting voice among them, they all gave the same answer, or all united in returning for answer what follows:
all that the Lord hath spoken we will do; obey his voice in all things he directs unto, or commands to be done, and keep the covenant he should make with them, and observe whatever was required on their parts; which was well spoken, if with the heart, and if, under a consciousness of their own weakness, they had expressed their desire of dependence upon the grace of God to enable them to perform, see De 5:28. The Septuagint version adds, “and we will hear”, or be obedient, as in Ex 24:7:
and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord; not for his information, who knew very well what they had said, but for the discharge of his office as a mediator and messenger between God and them: this, according to Jarchi, was on the third day of the month.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8. And all the people answered. We shall see in its proper place why God employed Moses as a messenger to carry backwards and forwards the commands and replies; now he merely relates what all the people answered, viz., that they would be obedient in all things. It was not a part, but the whole of the people who promised this, and the reply was unreserved, declaring that they would do whatsoever God required. Yet soon after they relapsed into their natural mind, and kept not their promise even in the smallest degree. Still we may believe that they spoke without dissembling; but that, although without any intention of deceiving God, they were carried away by a kind of headlong zeal, and deceived themselves. Nor was it the object of Moses to tell them in reproach that they had lied to God, or deceitfully boasted with their lips what they did not feel in their hearts; but, by stating how ready they were to obey, he deprives them hereafter of all pretense of ignorance. Nor is there any doubt that God inclined their minds to this docility, in order to establish the doctrine of His law. Meanwhile, let us learn from their example, that we must not merely obey God’s word by some earnest impulse; and that a hasty feeling is of no use, unless it be followed by constant perseverance; and, therefore, let us learn to sift; ourselves well, lest: we rashly promise, without serious self-examination, more, than we are able to perform. Yet we must not forget what. I have already said, that they were all made willing by the secret inspiration of God, in order that they might be witnesses both to themselves and others of the many signs, by which the truth and faithfulness of the (212) heavenly doctrine was then confirmed.
(212) La Loy. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) All the people answered together.There was no hesitation, no diversity of opinion, no self-distrust. In view of the great privileges offered to them, all were willing, nay, eager, to promise for themselves that they would obey Gods voice indeed, and keep his covenant. In the glow and warmth of their feelings the difficulty of perfect obedience did not occur to them.
Moses returned the wordsi.e., took them back, reported them.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. All the people answered together From the language employed in the preceding verse, and from the nature of the case, we most naturally infer that this answer of the people was obtained, not in one open assembly of all the nation, but through the mediation of the elders . These elders, representing each a different portion of the people, would have ready means of communicating with the different tribes, and obtaining at short notice their sentiments on any important matter . The word together, accordingly, means here the oneness or unanimity of the people’s response . The answer returned was as that of one man . These two verses (7th and 8th) illustrate what any reader of sense ought to take for granted in such a history as this . We are not to suppose that every detail of communication is given. A great many small gatherings of the people may often have been held in different parts of the plain, and in the adjacent valleys, to hear the words of Jehovah; sometimes communications may have been delivered by numerous messengers without any public assembly. Any reasonable hypothesis of this kind is legitimate in interpretation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Again and again, remember in all this Him whom Moses typified. Oh! how sweet to behold Jesus in his goings and returns, in this unceasing character of his priestly office. Heb 7:26 ; Rev 19:13-16 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Ver. 8. All that the Lord hath spoken. ] Sed, quid dignum tanto feret hic promissor hiatu! How easily over estimate we our own abilities! Pollicitis dives quilibet esse potest. Words are good cheap.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
returned. Moses’ second ascent, verses: Exo 19:8-13. See note on Exo 19:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
we will do
The Fifth Dispensation: Law. This dispensation extends from Sinai to Calvary–from Exodus to the Cross. The history of Israel in the wilderness and in the land is one long record of the violation of the law. The testing of the nation by law ended in the judgment of the Captivities, but the dispensation itself ended at the Cross.
(1) Man’s state at the beginning Exo 19:1-4.
(2) His responsibility Exo 19:5; Exo 19:6; Rom 10:5.
(3) His failure 2Ki 17:7-17; 2Ki 17:19; Act 2:22; Act 2:23.
(4) The judgment 2Ki 17:1-6; 2Ki 17:20; 2Ki 25:1-11; Luk 21:20-24
For Another Point of View: See Topic 301180
See, for the other six dispensations: INNOCENCE (Gen 1:28); CONSCIENCE (Gen 3:23); HUMAN GOVERNMENT (Gen 8:20); PROMISE (Gen 12:1); GRACE (Joh 1:17); KINGDOM (Eph 1:10)
(See Scofield “Gen 1:28”). See Scofield “Gen 3:23”. See Scofield “Gen 8:21”. See Scofield “Gen 12:1”. See Scofield “Joh 1:17”. See Scofield “Eph 1:10”.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Exo 20:19, Exo 24:3, Exo 24:7, Deu 5:27-29, Deu 26:17-19, Jos 24:24, Neh 10:29
Reciprocal: Jos 24:21 – Nay Psa 103:7 – He made Jer 2:20 – and thou saidst Mat 26:35 – Likewise Mar 14:31 – Likewise Luk 9:57 – a certain