Scofield Reference Notes In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. [2] In the third month
At Sinai Israel learned the lessons: (1) of the holiness of Jehovah through the Commandments; (2) of their own sinfulness and weakness through failure; (3) and of the goodness of Jehovah through the provision of priesthood and sacrifice. The Christian learns through the experience of Rom 7:7-24 what Israel learned at Sinai. This division of Exodus should be read in light of Rom 3:19-27 7:7-24 Gal 4:1-3 Gal 3:6-25 explains the relation of the law to the Abrahamic Covenant: (1) the law cannot disannul that covenant; (2) it was "added" to convict of sin; (3) it was a child-leader unto Christ; (4) it was but preparatory discipline "till the Seed should come." Margin third month i.e. June. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [3] Thus shalt thou say
It is exceedingly important to observe: (1) that Jehovah reminded the people that hitherto they had been the objects of His free grace; (2) that the law is not proposed as a means of life, but as a means by which Israel might become "a peculiar treasure" and a "kingdom of priests"; (3) that the law was not imposed until it had been proposed and voluntarily accepted. The principle is stated in Gal 5:1-4. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [4] if ye will obey
(Cf) 1Pet 2:9 Rev 1:6 5:10. What, under law, was condition, is under grace, freely given to every believer. The "if" of Ex 19:5 is the essence of law as a method of divine dealing, and the fundamental reason why "the law made nothing perfect" Rom 8:3 Heb 7:18,19. The Abrahamic: See Scofield Note: "Gen 15:18" and New See Scofield Note: "Heb 8:8" covenants minister salvation and assurance because they impose but one condition, faith. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
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. [1] 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 Ex 19:1-4. (2) His responsibility Ex 19:5,6 Rom 10:5. (3) His failure 2Ki 17:7-17,19 Acts 2:22,23. (4) The judgment 2Ki 17:1-6,20 25:1-11 Lk 21:20-24 See, for the other six dispensations: INNOCENCE (Ge 1.28); CONSCIENCE (Ge 3.23); HUMAN GOVERNMENT (Ge 8.20); PROMISE (Ge 12.1); GRACE (Jn 1.17); KINGDOM (Ep 1.10) See Scofield Note: "Gen 1:28". See Scofield Note: "Gen 3:23". See Scofield Note: "Gen 8:21". See Scofield Note: "Gen 12:1". See Scofield Note: "Jn 1:17". See Scofield Note: "Eph 1:10". And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them. [1] So Moses The Mosaic Covenant, (1) given to Israel (2) in three divisions, each essential to the others, and together forming the Mosaic Covenant, viz.: the Commandments, expressing the righteous will of God Ex 20:1-26 the "judgments," governing the social life of Israel Ex 21:1-24:11 and the "ordinances," governing the religious life of Israel Ex 24:12-31:18. These three elements form "the law," as that phrase is generically used in the New Testament (e.g.) Mt 5:17,18. The Commandments and the ordinances formed one religious system. The Commandments were a "ministry of condemnation" and of "death" 2Cor 3:7-9 the ordinances gave, in the high priest, a representative of the people with Jehovah; and in the sacrifices a "cover" (see "Atonement," See Scofield Note: "Lev 16:6" for their sins in anticipation of the Cross Heb 5:1-3 9:6-9 Rom 3:25,26. The Christian is not under the conditional Mosaic Covenant of works, the law, but under the unconditional New Covenant of grace. Rom 3:21-27 6:14,15 Gal 2:16 Gal 3:10-14,16-18,24-26 4:21-31 Heb 10:11-17. See NEW COVENANT. See Scofield Note: "Heb 8:8" See,for the other seven covenants: EDENIC See Scofield Note: "Gen 1.28"; ADAMIC See Scofield Note: "Gen 3.15"; NOAHIC See Scofield Note: "Gen 9.1"; ABRAHAMIC See Scofield Note: "Gen 15.18"; PALESTINIAN See Scofield Note: "Dt 30.3"; DAVIDIC See Scofield Note: "2Sam 7.16"; NEW See Scofield Note: "He 8.8". Scofield Reference Notes by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [1917] Bible Hub |
    |