Exodus 19:5

“Now therefore, etc.] Since they had received such marks of his favour, and were laid under great obligations to him: if ye will obey my voice indeed; truly, sincerely, and heartily; or “in hearkening hearken”, or “in obeying obey” f586; that is, closely and attentively hearken to what he should say to them, and thoroughly and constantly yield a cheerful obedience to his commands: and keep my covenant; now about to be made with them, which would consist of promises of good things to be done to them on his part, and of duties to be performed by them on their part, and so would constitute a formal covenant by stipulation and restipulation: then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all…”

“A peculiar treasure - A costly possession acquired with exertion, and carefully guarded. The special relation in which Israel stands, taken out of the pagan world and consecrated to God, as His slaves, subjects, and children, determines their privileges, and is the foundation of their duties. The same principle applies even in a stronger sense to the Church. See Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 2:9. All the earth is mine - It was a point of great practical importance, to impress upon the Jews that their God was no mere national Deity. Compare Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalms 24:1. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Then ye shall be a peculiar treasure to me - He doth not instance in any one particular favour, but expresseth it in that which was inclusive of all happiness, that he would be to them a God in covenant, and they should be to him a people. Nay you shall be a peculiar treasure: not that God was enriched by them, as a man is by his treasure, but he was pleased to value and esteem them as a man doth his treasure; they were precious in his sight. He took them under his special care and protection, as a treasure that is kept under lock and key. He distinguished them from, and dignified them above all people, as a people devoted to him, and to his service. Exodus 19:6”

“19:5-6 God, to whom all the earth belongs, promised to make Israel his own special treasure. This promise was contingent upon their accepting a covenant with God and keeping it faithfully. • my kingdom of priests, my holy nation: The nation was to become intermediaries between a holy God and a lost world. Through them God would reveal himself (see 1 Pet 2:9-10).”

“if ye: Exo 23:22, Exo 24:7; Deu 11:27, Deu 28:1; Jos 24:24; Sa1 15:22; Isa 1:19; Jer 7:23, Jer 11:4-7; Heb 11:8 keep: Deu 5:2; Psa 25:10, Psa 103:17, Psa 103:18; Isa 56:4; Jer 31:31-33 a peculiar: Deu 4:20, Deu 7:6, Deu 14:2, Deu 14:21, Deu 26:18, Deu 32:8, Deu 32:9; Kg1 8:53; Psa 135:4; Sol 8:12; Isa 41:8, Isa 43:1; Jer 10:16; Mal 3:17; Tit 2:14 all the earth: Exo 9:29; Deu 10:14; Job 41:11; Psa 24:1, Psa 50:11; Dan 4:34, Dan 4:35; Co1 10:26, Co1 10:28 Exodus 19:6”

“This manifestation of the love of God to Israel formed only the prelude, however, to that gracious union which Jehovah was now about to establish between the Israelites and Himself. If they would hear His voice, and keep the covenant which as about to be established with them, they should be a costly possession to Him out of all nations (cf. Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2; Deu 26:18). סגלּה does not signify property in general, but valuable property, that which is laid by, or put aside (סגל), hence a treasure of silver and gold ( Ch1 29:3; Ecc 2:8). In the Sept. the expression is rendered λαὸς περιούσιος, which the Scholiast in Octat. interprets ἐξαίρετος, and in Mal 3:17 εἰς περιποίησιν: hence the…”