And he said, Draw not nigh— Soon as Moses discerned this astonishing sight, his curiosity was raised, and he turned aside to contemplate it; doing which, as some suppose, with too much boldness, he was immediately given to understand, that this was a Divine manifestation, and was admonished to approach with due reverence; particularly by putting off his shoes: put off thy shoes: the reason for which is immediately subjoined, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. This custom of treading barefoot in holy places, seems to have been general in the East: the Egyptians used it; and Pythagoras is thought to have learned the rite from them, for he recommends to his disciples, (Ανυποδητος θυε και προσκυνει,) offer sacrifice, and worship, putting off your shoes. The Mahomedans observe this ceremony to the present day, as do the Christians of Abyssinia. Whence it is originally derived, it is not easy to determine. God speaks here to Moses in such terms, as would lead one to believe the custom then familiar; and, consequently, of very high antiquity. The same direction, urged by the same reason, is given to Joshua, Judges 5:15 and in the service of the tabernacle and temple the priests officiated bare-foot. Juvenal remarks, that this was the practice of the Jews in his time:
Observant ubi festa mero pede sabbata reges. "———Judah's tribe:
Where, bare-foot, they approach the sacred shrine." DRYDEN, Sat. III.
Some have supposed the rite to have been originally derived from slaves, who went bare-foot, in token of meanness and subjection: hence it was used as a sign of mourning and humiliation, 2 Samuel 15:30. Isaiah 2:4.Ezekiel 17:23. However, as the custom prevailed so early, and spread so universally, it is probable, as Mede and others remark, that it was one of the religious ceremonies observed by the patriarchs, as a sign of that awful respect, with which mortals ought to approach their Maker. Something of this kind has been usual among other nations: and, as in the East, they uncovered their feet, so we uncover our heads, in token of the same respect, when we approach the presence of the Almighty.