Literary Devices – Shemot 19

• See the Tanakh Lab that two of the most prevalent roots in the chapter are the related verbs "עלה" and "ירד".  The two betray the main theme of the unit - the meeting of man and God.  Hashem "descends" to reveal Himself, but still maintains distance, as only a select few are allowed to  ascend to Him in turn. 

The Torah uses the image of Hashem carrying Israel on eagles’ wings in both Shemot 19 and Devarim 32. 

• See Ibn Ezra on Devarim 32:11 that this reflects the majesty and speed with which they left Egypt. 
• See “Upon the Wings of Eagles” and “Under the Wings of the Shekhinah”: Poetry, Conversion, and the Memorial Prayer by R. Yaakov Jaffe which explores different variations of the metaphor of eagles’ wings through the interpretations of classical commentators, relating these ideas to the liturgical use of this image. 

Using the concordance demonstrates that fire is often a vehicle of Hashem’s revelation, becoming a symbol thereof as well.  Fire has appeared in the context of the Covenant Between the Pieces, the destruction of Sedom, the plagues, and the pillar of cloud and fire that led the Israelites in the desert.  Fire appears many times subsequently in the Torah, as well, often in the context of divine wrath and destruction.

• See The Eternal Flame, by R. David Silverberg, for an analysis of consuming fire as a symbol of divine punishment and non-destructive fire as a symbol of Hashem’s presence. 
• See קול אלקים מדבר מתוך האש, by R. Amnon Bazak, for analysis of how Torah’s descriptions of the fire of Sinai in Shemot and Devarim are meant to impart three fundamental religious beliefs: God’s incorporeality, the prohibition of idolatry, and the truth of Moshe’s prophecy. 

Using the concordance demonstrates that clouds (like fire) are often a vehicle of Hashem’s revelation, becoming a symbol thereof as well.

• See Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Cloud, by R. Tamir Granot, for analysis of the phenomenon of Hashem’s revelation through natural phenomena such as fire and clouds. He suggests that in Tanakh, the cloud and pillar of fire are not two distinct modes of revelation, but one and the same. God's glory is manifest as fire which is screened by the cloud. It is referred to as one or the other due to the perception of the viewer, who might see fire at night, but only cloud during the day.
• See For the Cloud Rested Upon It, by R. Shimon Klein, for exploration of the distinct symbols of fire and cloud.  He suggests that fire represents Hashem’s actions and manifestation while the cloud represents man’s encounter with Him.