And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
God set up His pavilion on a barren mountaintop in the wilderness, not in any city or palace men had built, and thus put contempt upon all our magnificence. The Israelites reckoned on a three days' journey to sacrifice, yet took nearly two months; we are always miscounting the time such things require.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 19:1-8
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people,.... After he had heard the above words from the mouth of God, he came down from the mount into the camp of Israel, and sent for the elders or principal men of the tribes and families of Israel to come to him: and, being gathered together: laid before their faces all these words which...
Moses came and called for the elders of the people--The message was conveyed to the mighty multitude through their elders, who, doubtless, instructed them in the conditions required. Their unanimous acceptance was conveyed through the same channel to Moses, and by him reported to the Lord. Ah! how much self-confidence did their language betray! How little did they know what spirit they were of!