And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’
26. Neither shalt thou go up. When God had prescribed modesty to the priests in their whole life, and in their private actions, no wonder that He should require especial care of decency and propriety in the performance of their sacred duties.
Moses having gone into the thick darkness, where God was, God there spoke in his hearing only, privately and without terror, all that follows hence to the end of ch. 23, which is mostly an exposition of the ten commandments; and he was to transmit it by word of mouth first, and afterwards in writing, to the people. The laws in these verses related to God's worship. I.
Commenting on Exodus 20:22-26
by steps--a precaution taken for the sake of decency, in consequence of the loose, wide, flowing garments of the priests. Next: Exodus Chapter 21