Exodus 19

Israel at Mount Sinai

¹In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. ²After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

• EX 19:1[FULFILLS]God told Moses the people would worship Him on this same mountain ← EX 3:12

³Then Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel: ⁴‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ⁵Now 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. ⁶And 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.”

• EX 19:5[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → 1PE 2:9
• EX 19:6[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → 1PE 2:5
• EX 19:6[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → REV 1:6
• EX 19:6[ALLUDED TO]The New Testament refers to this → REV 5:10

⁷So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that Yahweh had commanded him. ⁸And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that Yahweh has spoken.”

So Moses brought their words back to Yahweh.

⁹Yahweh 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 Yahweh what the people had said.

¹⁰Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes ¹¹and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

¹²And 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. ¹³No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’

• EX 19:12[QUOTED]Quoted in the New Testament → HEB 12:20

Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

¹⁴When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”

Yahweh Visits Sinai

¹⁶On 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. ¹⁷Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

• EX 19:16[MIRACLE]Thunder, fire, and smoke as Yahweh comes down on Sinai

¹⁸Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because Yahweh had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. ¹⁹And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

²⁰Yahweh descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up, ²¹and Yahweh said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see Yahweh, lest many of them perish. ²²Even the priests who approach Yahweh must consecrate themselves, or Yahweh will break out against them.”

²³But Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

²⁴And Yahweh replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to Yahweh, or He will break out against them.”

²⁵So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.