Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Exodus 19

Exo 19:1 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.

third month

i.e. June.

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 Romans 7:7-24 what Israel learned at Sinai. This division of Exodus should be read in light of Romans 3:19-26; 7:7-24; Galatians 4:1-3; Galatians 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."

children of Israel

Israel (history), vs. 1-8; Exo 20:1-17. (Gen 12:2, 3; Rom 11:26.)

Law (of Moses). Exo 20:1-17. (Exodus 19:1; Galatians 3:1-29).

Exo 19:2 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.

camped before the mount

Cf. Exo 3:12.

Exo 19:3 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;

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 Galatians 5:1-4.

Exo 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

brought you unto myself

Separation. Exo 33:16. (Gen 12:1; 2 Cor 6:14-17.)

Exo 19:5 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:

if ye will obey my voice

Cf. 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10. What, under law, was condition, is under grace, freely given to every believer. The "if" of Exodus 19:5 is the essence of law as a method of divine dealing, and the fundamental reason why "the law made nothing perfect" (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 7:18, 19). The Abrahamic: (Scofield Genesis 15:18, note) and New (Scofield Hebrews 8:8, note) covenants minister salvation and assurance because they impose but one condition, faith.

Exo 19:6 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.

These are the words which thou shalt speak

Inspiration. vs. 6, 7; Exo 20:1. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

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.

All that the LORD hath spoken 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 (Exodus 19:1-4).
2. His responsibility (Exodus 19:5, 6; Romans 10:5).
3. His failure (2 Kings 17:7-17, 19; Acts 2:22, 23).
4. The judgment (2 Kings 17:1-6, 20; 25:1-11; Luke 21:20-24).

See, for the other six dispensations:

• Innocence (Scofield Genesis 1:28)
• Conscience (Scofield Genesis 3:23)
• Human Government (Scofield Genesis 8:20)
• Promise (Scofield Genesis 12:1)
• Grace (Scofield John 1:17)
• Kingdom (Scofield Ephesians 1:10)

Exo 19:9 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 believe thee for ever

Kingdom (O.T.) Exo 24:12. (Gen 1:26; Zec 12:8).

Exo 19:23 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.

sanctify it

Sanctify, holy (O.T.). Exo 28:1-3. (Gen 2:3; Zec 8:3)

Exo 19:25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

spake unto them

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 (Exodus 20:1-26);
   • the "judgments," governing the social life of Israel (Exodus 21:1 - Exodus 24:11); and
   • the "ordinances," governing the religious life of Israel (Exodus 24:12 - Exodus 31:18).

These three elements form "the law," as that phrase is generically used in the New Testament (e.g. Matthew 5:17, 18). The Commandments and the ordinances formed one religious system. The Commandments were a "ministry of condemnation" and of "death" (2 Corinthians 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," Scofield Leviticus 16:6, note) for their sins in anticipation of the Cross (Hebrews 5:1-3; 9:6-9; Romans 3:25, 26). The Christian is not under the conditional Mosaic Covenant of works, the law, but under the unconditional New Covenant of grace (Romans 3:21-27; 6:14, 15; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:10-14, 16-18, 24-26; 4:21-31; Hebrews 10:11-17). See New Covenant. (Scofield Hebrews 8:8, note).

See, for the other seven covenants:

• Edenic (Scofield Genesis 1:28)
• Adamic (Scofield Genesis 3:15)
• Noahic (Scofield Genesis 9:1)
• Abrahamic (Scofield Genesis 15:18)
• Palestinian (Scofield Deuteronomy 30:3)
• Davidic (Scofield 2 Samuel 7:16)
• New (Scofield Hebrews 8:8)

The Eight Covenants. Deu 30:1. (Gen 1:28; Heb 8:10).