Now then, if you really listen to my voice and keep my pact, you will be for me a special people among all peoples. Because mine is all the earth,
if you will listen to my voice. Exo 23:22; Exo 24:7; Deu 11:27; Deu 28:1; Josh 24:24; 1Sa 15:22; Isaiah 1:19; Jer 7:23; Jer 11:4-7; Hebrews 11:8.
and you will keep my covenant. Deu 5:2; Ps 25:10; Ps 103:17, Ps 103:18; Isaiah 56:4; Jer 31:31-33.
You will be my special treasure. Deu 4:20; Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2, Deu 14:21; Deu 26:18; Deu 32:8, Deu 32:9; 1Ki 8:53; Ps 135:4; Sing 8:12; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 43:1; Jer 10:16; bad 3:17; Tit 2:14.
because mine is all the earth. Exo 9:29; Deu 10:14; Job 41:11; Ps 24:1; Ps 50:11; Dan 4:34, Dan 4:35; 1Co 10:26, 1Co 10:28.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
For the first time in Exodus the word covenant is used to refer to the solemn agreement between the Israelites and God, which took place on Mount Sinai or the Covenant of Moses as it is sometimes called (Exo 24:1-8; Exo 31:12-18; Exo 34:27, Exo 34:28). In earlier passages of Exodus this term referred to the covenant made with Abraham (Exo 2:24; Exo 6:3-5). This same word is also used to refer to compromise treaties between Israel and other nations (Exo 23:32; Exo 34:12, Exo 34:15).
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
IF YOU HEARD MY VOICE. Israel’s continued election as God’s people depended on their obedience to Him as their Lord; that is indicated in the conditional construction (“if…”) of this verse. And God expected that obedience, so essential in fulfilling his future purposes for them (vv. Exo 19:5-6), came from grateful hearts that responded to his love and care for them, demonstrated above all in his deliverance from Egypt (see note above and Deu 6:5). The principle of obedience to God is likewise a fundamental element in the relationship with Christ under the new covenant (see Joh 8:31 Joh 14:21; Romans 4:12; Hebrews 3:7-19).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
The Lord gave titles for Israel: “special treasure”, “kingdom of priests” and “holy people”, which were conditioned on the nation being obedient and faithful to the covenant. These titles summed up the divine blessings such a nation would experience: belonging in a special way to the Lord, representing him on earth, and being set apart by him for his purposes. These titles ethnically and morally developed what it meant that He had brought them to Himself. “Because the whole earth is mine”, in the middle of these titles, highlighted the uniqueness and sovereignty of the Lord and should be understood as the rejection of all claims of the gods of the nations. In Israel’s situation, it was about more than the power of one god over another; it was about the choice and power of the one Lord! see 1Pe 2:9where Peter uses these terms in the sense of the spiritual kingdom of God with his redeemed.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
my special treasure: There is no agreement on the translation of this expression. Other versions say “my favorite town” (TLA, DHH), “my exclusive property” (NIV), “my personal property” (BJ). NBE says only “my property”. The Hebrew word means “valuable property”, “treasure” (also in 1Ch 29:3 Y bad 3:17), but when accompanied by the word “people”, it is preferable to translate special town (Deu 7:6), unique village (Deu 14:2) Y your town (Deu 26:18). The translator must evaluate which of these alternatives – all valid – best fits the target language.
Source: Commentary for Exegesis and Translation
— my favorite town: Lit. my peculiar property. This Hebrew expression refers to the unique and special way in which the people of Israel belong to God. Watch Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2; Deu 26:18; Ps 135:4; bad 3:17; Tit 2:14.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
GRADES
(1) Or, “listen.”
(2) Or, “then they will have to become.”
CROSS-REFERENCES
i 819 Ps 119:4; Pro 19:16; 1Jn 5:3
j 820 1Ki 8:21; Ps 25:10; Gal 4:24
k 821 1Ki 8:53; Ps 135:4
l 822 Deu 10:14; 1Co 10:26
Source: New World Translation
yes…you will be. This condition is the essential difference between the Mosaic covenant and the Abrahamic covenant (see Gen 15:1–21). The Sinai covenant required obedience to be effective.
my pact The Mosaic covenant was one of laws, statutes, ordinances, and commandments between God and a particular people: Israel. But at the same time it was established in the grace of God because He was willing to “cover” sins through animal sacrifices, which were a type of the definitive sacrifice that God himself was going to provide in Christ, the Lamb of God, which takes away, not merely covers, the sins of the world (Jn 1:29).
my special treasure This is the first of three expressions showing Israel’s special relationship with God (the others are in v. 6).
Source: The Bible of the Americas
The relationship specified in the covenant was that Israel would be God’s special treasure, a kingdom in which all its subjects were priests with access to God and a holy people, separated from all other nations and dedicated only to God.
Source: Ryrie Annotated Study Bible
predilection… → bad 3:17; Deu 4:20; Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2; Deu 26:18.
Source: Textual Bible IV Edition
g bad 3:17; Deu 4:20; Deu 7:6; Deu 14:2; Deu 26:18; Tit 2:14.
Source: The Textual Bible III Edition
*Deut 7:6 *Deut 26:18 *Mal 3:17