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 ,"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 . Piske Tosephot in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, art. 30. T. Bab. Succa, fol. 28. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol.
134.