For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord - i:e., set apart to the service of God, or chosen to execute the important purposes of His providence. Their selection to this high destiny was neither on account of their numerical amount-for, until after the death of Joseph, they were but a handful of people-nor of their extraordinary merits-for they had often pursued a most perverse and unworthy conduct, so that He could not derive any advantage from their services-but it was in consequence of the covenant or promise made with their pious forefathers; and the motives that led to that special act were such as tended not only to vindicate God's wisdom, but to illustrate His glory in diffusing the best and most precious blessings to all mankind (see God's wisdom, but to illustrate His glory in diffusing the best and most precious blessings to all mankind (see the notes at Exodus 19:6; Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 20:24-26).