Exodus 19Previous Chapter | Next ChapterThe Israelites Reach Mount Sinai1On the third new moon after the Israelites went out of the land of Egypt, on that very day,Lit. on this daythey came to the desert of Sinai.2They had set out from Rephidim and arrived at the desert of Sinai where they camped in the desert. Israel camped there in front of the mountain.3Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and declare to the sons of Israel,4‘You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.5And now if you carefully obey me and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession out of all the peoples. For the whole earth belongs to me,6but you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to me.’ These are the words you shall declare to the Israelites.”7When Moses came, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him.8All the people answered together, saying, “All that the LORD has said, we will do!” Then Moses reported all the words of the people back to the LORD.9The LORD said to Moses, “Look, I’m coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you always.” Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. Preparation for the Covenant10The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes,11and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.12You shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Be very careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch the side of it. Anyone who touches the mountain will surely be put to death.13No hand shall touch that person,Lit. himbut he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows;The Heb. lacks with arrowswhether animal or person, he shall not live.’ They shall approachOr go up tothe mountain only whenLit. Whenthe ram’s horn sounds a long blast.”14When Moses went down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes.15He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day;don’t approach a woman.” The LORD Appears on Mount Sinai16When morning came on the third day, there was thunder and lightning with a heavy cloud over the mountain and the very loud sound of a ram’s horn. All the people in the camp trembled.17Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the base of the mountain.18Now Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the LORD had come down in fire on it. Smoke went up from it like smoke from a kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.19As the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer with thunder.Or in a voice20When the LORD came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain, heLit. the LORDsummoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.21The LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people so they don’t break through to look at the LORD, and many of them perish.Lit. fall22Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves lest the LORD break out against them.”23Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai because you warned us, saying, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’”I.e. set it apart as holy24The LORD said to him, “Go down, and come back up with Aaron, but the priests and the people must not to break through to go up to the LORD lest he break out against them.25So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
they came to the desert of Sinai.2They had set out from Rephidim and arrived at the desert of Sinai where they camped in the desert. Israel camped there in front of the mountain.3Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and declare to the sons of Israel,4‘You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.5And now if you carefully obey me and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession out of all the peoples. For the whole earth belongs to me,6but you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to me.’ These are the words you shall declare to the Israelites.”7When Moses came, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him.8All the people answered together, saying, “All that the LORD has said, we will do!” Then Moses reported all the words of the people back to the LORD.9The LORD said to Moses, “Look, I’m coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you always.” Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. Preparation for the Covenant10The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes,11and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.12You shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Be very careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch the side of it. Anyone who touches the mountain will surely be put to death.13No hand shall touch that person,
