And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
Moses went up into the mount. The summit of the mount was covered by a dark cloud, which, with the resplendent glory, the shechinah, in the midst of it, symbolized the divine presence on the summit of the mount, as afterward in the holy of holies. At an elevated spot on the skirts of that mystic cloud Moses remained for the space of six days-a period of trial to his faith, humility, and patience; and had he, under the impulse of a proud, impatient self-will, broken through all restraints, as Saul afterward did (1 Samuel 15:1-35), he would have betrayed a want of devout, submissive dependence upon God, which would have indicated an unpreparedness for the great work he was chosen to perform. But he remained stedfast, immovable in the attitude of patient waiting until God's time should come; and he was at length summoned х bªyowm (H3117) hashªbiy`iy (H7637)] on the seventh day, God having chosen the Sabbath for the commencement of the glorious revelation, in order to put the greater honour upon it, and inspire the people with a deeper reverence for that sacred institution (cf. Revelation 1:18).