The Second Book of Moses: Exodus

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 19 -

In the third month, on the same day of the month

(a)

that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel:

‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.

And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.

And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.

The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes

and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’(b) Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.(c)”

When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”

The LORD Visits Sinai

On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.

And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,

and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.

Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”

But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”

So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Footnotes

(a)19:1 Hebrew In the third month, on the same day; that is, two months after leaving Egypt; see Numbers 33:3.

(b)19:13 Cited in Hebrews 12:20

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.

When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.

Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;

and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.

All the people answered together, and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.

The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.

The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,

and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.

You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.

No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”

Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.”

The LORD Visits Sinai

On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.

All of Mount Sinai smoked, because the LORD descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

Let the priests also, who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break out on them.”

Moses said to the LORD, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”

The LORD said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them.”

So Moses went down to the people, and told them.