Exodus 19:19

19:19 When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, ¹  Moses was speaking ²  and God was answering him with a voice. ³ 

Exodus 21:13

21:13 But if he does not do it with premeditation, ⁴  but it happens by accident, ⁵  then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

[19:19]  ¹ tn The active participle הוֹלֵךְ (holekh) is used to add the idea of “continually” to the action of the sentence; here the trumpet became very loud – continually. See GKC 344 §113.u.

[19:19]  ² tn The two verbs here (“spoke” and “answered”) are imperfect tenses; they emphasize repeated action but in past time. The customary imperfect usually is translated “would” or “used to” do the action, but here continuous action in past time is meant. S. R. Driver translates it “kept speaking” and “kept answering” (Exodus, 172).

[19:19]  ³ tn The text simply has בְּקוֹל (bÿqol); it could mean “with a voice” or it could mean “in thunder” since “voice” was used in v. 16 for thunder. In this context it would be natural to say that the repeated thunderings were the voice of God – but how is that an answer? Deut 4:12 says that the people heard the sound of words. U. Cassuto (Exodus, 232-33) rightly comments, “He was answering him with a loud voice so that it was possible for Moses to hear His words clearly in the midst of the storm.” He then draws a parallel from Ugaritic where it tells that one of the gods was speaking in a loud voice.

[21:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “if he does not lie in wait” (NASB similar).

[21:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “and God brought into his hand.” The death is unintended, its circumstances outside human control.