Israel at Mount Sinai
1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day,they cametothe Wilderness of Sinai.
2 For they had departed fromRephidim, had cometothe Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there beforethe mountain.
3 AndMoses went up to God, and theLordcalled to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, andhowI bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
5 Nowtherefore, if you will indeed obey My voice andkeep My covenant, thenyou shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earthisMine.
6 And you shall be to Me akingdom of priests and aholy nation.’ Thesearethe words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called for theelders of the people, and laid before them all these words which theLordcommanded him.
8 Thenall the people answered together and said, “All that theLordhas spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to theLord.
9 And theLordsaid to Moses, “Behold, I come to youin the thick cloud,that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”
So Moses told the words of the people to theLord.
10 Then theLordsaid to Moses, “Go to the people andconsecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day theLordwill come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselvesthatyou donotgo up to the mountain or touch its base.Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shotwithanarrow;whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.
15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day;do not come nearyourwives.”
16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there werethunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people whowerein the camptrembled.
17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 NowMount Sinaiwascompletely in smoke, because theLorddescended uponit in fire.Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and thewhole mountain quaked greatly.
19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder,Moses spoke, andGod answered him by voice.
20 Then theLordcame down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And theLordcalled Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 And theLordsaid to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break throughto gaze at theLord, and many of them perish.
22 Also let thepriests who come near theLordconsecrate themselves, lest theLordbreak out against them.”
23 But Moses said to theLord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying,‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”
24 Then theLordsaid to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to theLord, lest He break out against them.”
25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.