CHAPTER 19
In the third
month,
on the same
day of the month
that the Israelites
had left
Egypt,
they came
to the Desert
of Sinai.
After they had set out
from Rephidim,
they entered
the Desert
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
the words
of the people
to
the LORD.
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.’
Only when the ram’s horn
sounds a long blast
may they
go up
the mountain.”
When Moses
came down
from
the mountain
to
the people,
he consecrated them,
and they washed
their clothes.
On the third
day,
when morning
came,
there was
thunder
and lightning.
A thick
cloud
was upon
the mountain,
with a very loud
trumpet
blast,
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 smoke
rose
like the smoke
of a furnace,
and the whole
mountain
quaked
violently.
And as
the sound
of the trumpet
grew louder
and louder,
Moses
spoke,
and God
answered him
in the thunder.
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 come near
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.”