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。

以色列人在西奈山

19 以色列人离开埃及满三个月的那一天,他们来到西奈半岛的旷野。 他们离开利非订,来到西奈旷野,在那里的山下安营。

摩西上山到上帝那里,耶和华从山上呼唤他说:“你告诉雅各家,告诉以色列人, ‘我怎样对付埃及人,你们都看见了,我好像鹰一样把你们背在翅膀上带到我这里。 现在,倘若你们认真听从我的话,遵守我的约,就必在万民中做我的子民,因为普天下都是我的。 你们要归于我,作祭司之国、圣洁之邦。这些话你要告诉以色列人。’”

摩西召集以色列的长老,把耶和华对他的一切吩咐都转告他们。 百姓都齐声回答说:“凡耶和华所吩咐的,我们都愿意遵从。”

摩西便把他们的话回报耶和华。 耶和华对摩西说:“我会在密云中临到你那里,使百姓也可以亲耳听见我与你说话的声音,这样他们就会永远信赖你。”摩西把以色列人的话回报耶和华。 10 耶和华对摩西说:“你现在回到他们那里,吩咐他们今天和明天要洁净自己,洗净衣服, 11 到后天都要预备好,因为这一天耶和华要在百姓眼前降临在西奈山上。 12 此外,你要在山的四围划定界线,吩咐百姓不得上山或碰到界线,违例者死。 13 你们不可用手触摸违例者,要用石头打死他或用箭射死他,牲畜也不例外。百姓要一直等到听见角声长鸣才可上山。” 14 于是,摩西下山回到百姓那里,吩咐他们各人洁净自己,洗净衣服。 15 又吩咐他们说:“到后天一切都要准备好,这期间你们不可亲近女人。”

16 到了第三天早晨,山上雷电大作,乌云密布,又有嘹亮的号角声,营中的百姓都胆战心惊。 17 摩西率领百姓出营迎接上帝,他们都站在山脚下。 18 因为耶和华在火中降临到西奈山,整座山都冒着浓烟,滚滚上腾,好像一个大火窑,整座山都震动起来。 19 号角声越来越嘹亮。摩西说话,上帝就回应他,声音好像雷鸣。 20 耶和华降临在西奈山顶,召摩西到山顶,摩西就上去了。 21 耶和华对摩西说:“你下去嘱咐百姓不可闯过界线到我这里观看,以免很多人死亡。 22 吩咐到我面前来的祭司要洁净自己,免得我忽然出来击杀他们。”

23 摩西对耶和华说:“百姓不能上西奈山,因为你已经吩咐我们要在山的四围划定界限,使这山成为圣山。” 24 耶和华对他说:“你下去把亚伦一起带来,祭司和百姓仍要留在原来的地方,不得乱闯到我面前,免得我忽然出来击杀他们。” 25 摩西就下去,把耶和华的话转告给百姓。

The Lord Reveals Himself at Sinai

19 Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt,[a] they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.

Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.”

Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. 13 No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.[b]

14 So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. 15 He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.”

16 On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. 17 Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. 20 The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.

21 Then the Lord told Moses, “Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the Lord, or they will die. 22 Even the priests who regularly come near to the Lord must purify themselves so that the Lord does not break out and destroy them.”

23 “But Lord,” Moses protested, “the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’”

24 But the Lord said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people break through to approach the Lord, or he will break out and destroy them.”

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them what the Lord had said.

Footnotes

  1. 19:1 Hebrew In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on the very day, i.e., two lunar months to the day after leaving Egypt. Compare Num 33:3.
  2. 19:13 Or up to the mountain.

19 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.

And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.

10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.

22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.

23 And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

24 And the Lord said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon them.

25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.