Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, on Exod 20:19

“Saying to Moses: Speak thou to us, and we will hear: let not the Lord speak to us, lest we die.”

“let not God speak with us, lest we die, &c.--The phenomena of thunder and lightning had been one of the plagues so fatal to Egypt, and as they heard God speaking to them now, they were apprehensive of instant death also. Even Moses himself, the mediator of the old covenant, did "exceedingly quake and fear" (Heb 12:21). But doubtless God spake what gave him relief--restored him to a frame of mind fit for the ministrations committed to him; and hence immediately after he was enabled to relieve and comfort them with the relief and comfort which he himself had received from God (Co2 1:4).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.