Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 34:3
And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.
3. The precautions are similar to those taken in Exo 19:12 f.
before ] rather, in front of, i.e. on the slopes in front of the mountain, towards its foot.
As was pointed out on p. 347, the historical retrospect in Deu 9:8-29 is based largely upon Exodus 32, and contains numerous verbal excerpts from it; and a comparison of Deu 10:1-3 with Exo 34:1; Exo 34:4 makes it practically certain that in the text of Exo 34:1; Exo 34:4 which lay before the author of Dt., there was mention of the ark as made at this time by Moses. Here is the text of Deu 10:1-3, with the words excerpted from Exo 34:1-2; Exo 34:4 printed in italics: ‘(Deu 10:1) At that time Jehovah said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me to the mount, and make thee an ark of wood; (2) that I may write upon the tables the words that were on the first tables, which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. (3) And I made an ark of acacia-wood; and I hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and I went up to the mount; and the two tables were in my hand.’ Thus in Dt. Moses is instructed to make, and actually does make, the ark, before ascending the mount the second time to receive the tables of stone (Exo 34:4); whereas in Ex. the command to make the ark is both given to Bezalel and executed by him, after Moses’ return from the mountain (Exo 35:30 ff., Exo 36:2, Exo 37:1 all passages belonging to P). The two accounts are evidently discrepant: and there can be no reasonable doubt that the notices of the ark contained in the original text of Exo 34:1; Exo 34:4 were omitted by the compiler, as inconsistent with the more detailed particulars, which he preferred, contained in the narrative of P.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This is said, not for the beasts, which are not capable of a law, but to restrain the presumption and curiosity of the people, by this argument, that even the beasts that come too near shall be destroyed, and much more man, whose knowledge aggravates his sin and punishment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. no man shall come up with thee .. . neither . . . flocks nor herdsAll these enactments weremade in order that the law might be a second time renewed with thesolemnity and sanctity that marked its first delivery. The wholetransaction was ordered so as to impress the people with an awfulsense of the holiness of God; and that it was a matter of no triflingmoment to have subjected Him, so to speak, to the necessity ofre-delivering the law of the ten commandments.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And no man shall come up with thee,…. Before, Aaron and his two sons, and the seventy elders of Israel, went up with Moses, though they did not go so near the Lord as he did; but now having sinned in the matter of the golden calf, though a reconciliation was made, they were not allowed to go with him, nor even Joshua his servant, though he had no concern in the sin; Moses must be alone, that the ministration of the law might be by him only, and in order to receive a peculiar favour in answer to his request:
neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; in any part of it, as Joshua was before in some part of it, even all the while that Moses was there; but now not a single person must be seen anywhere, not only because of the giving of the law to Moses, but because of the display of the divine glory, which was to be made particularly to him:
neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount; or over against it, or rather “near” it f; which was ordered, not so much on the account of the flocks themselves, who were not capable of any moral guilt; nor that they might not come to any hurt, since they were to be stoned or thrust through with a dart if they touched it, which order it is highly probable was in force as before; but on the account of their keepers, that there might be none of them on the spot, or near, to observe what passed; and chiefly this was said to command fear and reverence in the minds of the people, while this solemn affair was transacting between God and Moses, and to check all curiosity in them.
f , Sept. “prope montem illum”, Noldius, p. 80.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. And no man shall come up with thee Again men as well as beasts are prohibited from access to the mount, as had been the case at the first promulgation of the Law, in order that the people might obediently receive the Law as if come down from heaven. Why God admitted no witness, is a question the answer to which must remain with God Himself. The miracle indeed would have been illustrious if the writing had appeared in a moment on the empty tables; but God would leave some room for faith, when He employed the intermediate agency of man. But still He amply provided what was sufficient to establish the dignity of the Law, when Moses brought the Ten Commandments written upon two tables which the people had lately seen taken up void and empty, whereas He could not have found in the mount a chisel or graving-tool. For (376) God so administers the dispensation of His heavenly doctrine as to prove the obedience and teachableness of believers, whilst He leaves no room for doubting.
(376) “Voyla comment Dieu dispense par bon moyen le cognoissance de sa Parole;” Behold how God dispenses in a good way the knowledge of His Word. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) No man shall come up with thee . . . These stringent commands were new. On the previous occasion, Aaron, Hur, and the elders had ascended the mount part of the way (Exo. 24:9-11); and Joshua had accompanied his master almost to the summit (Exo. 24:13), and had apparently remained in some part of the mountain during the whole time of Moses stay (Exo. 32:17). Now Moses was to be quite alone, and no one was to be seen in any part of the mount. The stringency of the new orders must be connected with the promised revelation to Moses of Gods glory (Exo. 33:21-23).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. No man with thee As contrasted with Exo 24:9-13. Not even Joshua accompanied Moses now . He probably remained at the tent of the congregation . Exo 33:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Sweet is the private communion of God with the soul. See Joh 14:21 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 34:3 And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.
Ver. 3. Neither let any man be seen. ] See Trapp on “ Exo 19:12 “
Neither let the flocks.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man. Heb, ‘ish. See App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Exo 19:12, Exo 19:13, Exo 19:21, Lev 16:17, 1Ti 2:5, Heb 12:20
Reciprocal: Exo 33:9 – talked Job 26:9 – General Rev 4:1 – Come