The people therefore that stood by and heard [it]
Some more confusedly, who were farthest off; others more distinctly, who were nearer: the first of these,
said that it thundered;
as it used to do when "Bath Kol" was heard, which, as the Jews say F1,
``is a voice that comes out of heaven proceeding from the midst of another voice,''as thunder; wherefore some took this for thunder, and others for the voice of an angel out of the thunder:
others said, an angel spoke to him;
these being nearer, perceived it was an articulate voice, which expressed certain distinct words, which they thought were delivered by an angel; for the Jews had a mighty notion of the discourse and conversation of angels with men, which their doctors pretended to understand; particularly R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a Rabbi, who was living at this time, had learned their speech, and was well versed in it F2.