Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary 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 ver. 14.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Moses was called up the mountain, and was employed as the messenger of this covenant. The Maker and first Mover of the covenant, is God himself. This blessed charter was granted out of God's own free grace The covenant here mentioned was the national covenant, by which the Israelites were a people under the government of Jehovah. It was a typ of the new covenant made with true believers in Christ Jesus; but, lik other types, it was only a shadow of good things to come. As a natio they broke this covenant; therefore the Lord declared that he woul make a new covenant with Israel, writing his law, not upon tables of stone, but in their hearts, Jer 31:33; Heb 8:7-10. The covenant spoke of in these places as ready to vanish away, is the national covenan with Israel, which they forfeited by their sins. Unless we carefull attend to this, we shall fall into mistakes while reading the Ol Testament. We must not suppose that the nation of the Jews were unde the covenant of works, which knows nothing of repentance, faith in Mediator, forgiveness of sins, or grace; nor yet that the whole natio of Israel bore the character, and possessed the privileges of tru believers, as being actually sharers in the covenant of grace. The were all under a dispensation of mercy; they had outward privileges an advantages for salvation; but, like professing Christians, most reste therein, and went no further. Israel consented to the conditions. The answered as one man, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. Oh tha there had been such a heart in them! Moses, as a mediator, returned the words of the people to God. Thus Christ, the Mediator, as a Prophet reveals God's will to us, his precepts and promises; and then, as Priest, offers up to God our spiritual sacrifices, not only of praye and praise, but of devout affections, and pious resolutions, the wor of his own Spirit in us.
Original Hebrew ויענו6030 כל3605 העם5971 יחדו3162 ויאמרו559 כל3605 אשׁר834 דבר1696 יהוה3068 נעשׂה6213 וישׁב7725 משׁה4872 את853 דברי1697 העם5971 אל413 יהוה׃3068
