Exo 19:15, Joe 2:16, Zec 7:3 | JFB | STEP | 9-15. The Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come . . . in a thick cloud, &c.—The deepest impressions are made on the mind through the medium of the senses; and so He who knew what was in man signalized His descent at the inauguration of the ancient church, by all the sensible tokens of august majesty that were fitted to produce the conviction that He is the great and terrible God. The whole multitude must have anticipated the event with feelings of intense solemnity and awe. The extraordinary preparations enjoined, the ablutions and rigid abstinence they were required to observe, the barriers erected all round the base of the mount, and the stern penalties annexed to the breach of any of the conditions, all tended to create an earnest and solemn expectation which increased as the appointed day drew near.

Exodus 19:15

9-15. The Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come . . . in a thick cloud, &c.—The deepest impressions are made on the mind through the medium of the senses; and so He who knew what was in man signalized His descent at the inauguration of the ancient church, by all the sensible tokens of august majesty that were fitted to produce the conviction that He is the great and terrible God. The whole multitude must have anticipated the event with feelings of intense solemnity and awe. The extraordinary preparations enjoined, the ablutions and rigid abstinence they were required to observe, the barriers erected all round the base of the mount, and the stern penalties annexed to the breach of any of the conditions, all tended to create an earnest and solemn expectation which increased as the appointed day drew near.

Joel 2:16

16. sanctify the congregation—namely, by expiatory rites and purification with water [CALVIN], (Ex 19:10, 22). MAURER translates, "appoint a solemn assembly," which would be a tautological repetition of Joe 2:15.

elders . . . children—No age was to be excepted (2Ch 20:13).

bridegroom—ordinarily exempted from public duties (De 24:5; compare 1Co 7:5, 29).

closet—or, nuptial bed, from a Hebrew root "to cover," referring to the canopy over it.

Zechariah 7:3

3. Should I weep in the fifth month—"I" represents here the people of God (compare Zec 8:21). This rather favors MAURER'S view, taking "the house of God," the congregation, as nominative to "sent." Their hypocrisy appeared because they showed more concern about a ceremony of human institution (not improper in itself) than about moral obedience. If, too, they had trusted God's promise as to the restoration of Church and State, the fast would have now given place to joy, for which there was more cause than for grief [PEMBELLUS].

to the prophets—Haggai and Zechariah especially. The tenth day of the fifth month was kept a fast, being the anniversary of the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer 52:12-14). They ask, Should the fast be continued, now that the temple and city are being restored?

separating myself—sanctifying myself by separation, not only from food, but from all defilements (compare Joe 2:16) as was usual in a solemn fast.