以色列人在西奈山

19 以色列人離開埃及滿三個月的那一天,他們來到西奈半島的曠野。 他們離開利非訂,來到西奈曠野,在那裡的山下安營。

摩西上山到上帝那裡,耶和華從山上呼喚他說:「你告訴雅各家,告訴以色列人, 『我怎樣對付埃及人,你們都看見了,我好像鷹一樣把你們背在翅膀上帶到我這裡。 現在,倘若你們認真聽從我的話,遵守我的約,就必在萬民中做我的子民,因為普天下都是我的。 你們要歸於我,作祭司之國、聖潔之邦。這些話你要告訴以色列人。』」

摩西召集以色列的長老,把耶和華對他的一切吩咐都轉告他們。 百姓都齊聲回答說:「凡耶和華所吩咐的,我們都願意遵從。」

摩西便把他們的話回報耶和華。 耶和華對摩西說:「我會在密雲中臨到你那裡,使百姓也可以親耳聽見我與你說話的聲音,這樣他們就會永遠信賴你。」摩西把以色列人的話回報耶和華。 10 耶和華對摩西說:「你現在回到他們那裡,吩咐他們今天和明天要潔淨自己,洗淨衣服, 11 到後天都要預備好,因為這一天耶和華要在百姓眼前降臨在西奈山上。 12 此外,你要在山的四圍劃定界線,吩咐百姓不得上山或碰到界線,違例者死。 13 你們不可用手觸摸違例者,要用石頭打死他或用箭射死他,牲畜也不例外。百姓要一直等到聽見角聲長鳴才可上山。」 14 於是,摩西下山回到百姓那裡,吩咐他們各人潔淨自己,洗淨衣服。 15 又吩咐他們說:「到後天一切都要準備好,這期間你們不可親近女人。」

16 到了第三天早晨,山上雷電大作,烏雲密佈,又有嘹亮的號角聲,營中的百姓都膽戰心驚。 17 摩西率領百姓出營迎接上帝,他們都站在山腳下。 18 因為耶和華在火中降臨到西奈山,整座山都冒著濃煙,滾滾上騰,好像一個大火窯,整座山都震動起來。 19 號角聲越來越嘹亮。摩西說話,上帝就回應他,聲音好像雷鳴。 20 耶和華降臨在西奈山頂,召摩西到山頂,摩西就上去了。 21 耶和華對摩西說:「你下去囑咐百姓不可闖過界線到我這裡觀看,以免很多人死亡。 22 吩咐到我面前來的祭司要潔淨自己,免得我忽然出來擊殺他們。」

23 摩西對耶和華說:「百姓不能上西奈山,因為你已經吩咐我們要在山的四圍劃定界限,使這山成為聖山。」 24 耶和華對他說:「你下去把亞倫一起帶來,祭司和百姓仍要留在原來的地方,不得亂闖到我面前,免得我忽然出來擊殺他們。」 25 摩西就下去,把耶和華的話轉告給百姓。

At Mount Sinai

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(A)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(B) After they set out from Rephidim,(C) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(D)

Then Moses went up to God,(E) and the Lord called(F) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(G) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(H) and brought you to myself.(I) Now if you obey me fully(J) and keep my covenant,(K) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(L) Although the whole earth(M) is mine, you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests(N) and a holy nation.’(O) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went back and summoned the elders(P) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(Q) The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(R) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(S) so that the people will hear me speaking(T) with you and will always put their trust(U) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(V) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(W) 11 and be ready by the third day,(X) because on that day the Lord will come down(Y) on Mount Sinai(Z) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(AA) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(AB) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(AC) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(AD)

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(AE) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(AF) from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(AG) and lightning, with a thick cloud(AH) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(AI) Everyone in the camp trembled.(AJ) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(AK) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(AL) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(AM) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(AN) and the whole mountain[b] trembled(AO) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(AP) of God answered(AQ) him.[c]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(AR) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(AS) the Lord and many of them perish.(AT) 22 Even the priests, who approach(AU) the Lord, must consecrate(AV) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(AW)

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(AX) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(AY) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(AZ) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(BA)

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

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. You
  2. Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
  3. Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder

The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai

19 At the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 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 obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’

So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.’ Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.’

The People Consecrated

When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses: ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, “Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows;[a] whether animal or human being, they shall not live.” When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.’ 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, ‘Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman.’

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder. 20 When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to look; otherwise many of them will perish. 22 Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves or the Lord will break out against them.’ 23 Moses said to the Lord, ‘The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, “Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.”’ 24 The Lord said to him, ‘Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you; but do not let either the priests or the people break through to come up to the Lord; otherwise he will break out against them.’ 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:13 Heb lacks with arrows