Exodus 19:20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And the Lord came down, &c.— Houbigant renders this, But the Lord, as he descended upon Mount Sinai, called Moses to the top of the Mount. It must be understood in some such manner as this; as it is plain from Exodus 19:18 that the Lord had before descended; unless we will read that verse, because the Lord was descending upon it in fire: but, perhaps, it is best to read this Exodus 19:20, Now the Lord, having descended, called Moses, &c. It is evident from this verse, and from the subsequent Chapter s, especially the 24th, Exodus 24:1; Exodus 24:9; Exodus 24:13; Exodus 24:18 that there were different stations upon the mountain, which Moses and others were allowed to approach: the people were permitted only to come up to, or to approach the foot of the mountain, as we have observed on verses 12, 13. The Lord occupied the very top of the mountain, to the very inmost recess of whose presence Moses does not seem to have been admitted till ch. Exodus 24:15 while Aaron and the seventy elders were allowed to advance upon the mountain much farther than the people, but not so far as Moses, ch. Exodus 24:1-2.