Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 19:13

13 There shall not a hand touch it , but he shall surely be stoned or shot through, whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long , they shall come up to the mount .

(i. e.) The mountain. But 1. This seems to be a gross tautology, for it was twice forbidden in the words next foregoing. 2. So the word hand would seem to be ascribed both to man and beast. Others therefore render it, touch him, i. e. they shall look upon such an impudent transgressor of my express command as an abominable person, whom they cannot touch without defilement, and therefore he shall be put to death in such a manner as may be performed without touching him.

For though the beasts are not capable of a law, yet they might be threatned for mans caution, and punished for the fault of their owners in not keeping them at a distance from the mount.

(i. e.) With one continued, equal and gentle sound, as is usual in the end of the Musick-song, which is opposed to a rough and loud and unequal sound. There was no real trumpet here, but an Angel made a sound like that of a trumpet.

Obj. This was forbidden to them ver. 12. Ans. 1. They were forbidden to come up to the mount whilest God was delivering his laws, but allowed it afterwards when that action ceased, which was signified by the long sound of the trumpet. 2. They might not come into the mount or towards the top of it, but they might come to the bottom or lower parts of it, where the bounds were set, or at lest towards or near it, as the Hebrew preposition, beth, is sometimes used. So the mount may be understood more strictly, ver. 12. for an eminent part or top of it, where the thick cloud appeared, and where Moses was, and here more largely for the whole mountain.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word].