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。

Mozes beklimt de berg Sinaï

19 De Israëlieten bereikten de Sinaï-woestijn drie maanden na de nacht waarin zij Egypte hadden verlaten. Nadat zij uit Refidim waren vertrokken, kwamen zij bij de voet van de berg Sinaï en sloegen daar hun kamp op. Mozes beklom de berg om God te ontmoeten en de Here riep hem vanaf de berg en zei: ‘Geef deze opdrachten door aan het volk Israël. Zeg hun: “U hebt gezien wat Ik met de Egyptenaren heb gedaan en hoe Ik u bij Mij heb gebracht, zoals een arend zijn jong op zijn rug meeneemt. Als u Mij gehoorzaamt en uw deel van ons verbond naleeft, zult u mijn eigendom zijn tussen alle andere volken, want de hele aarde is mijn bezit. U zult een koninkrijk van priesters van God en een heilig volk zijn.” Vertel dit aan de Israëlieten.’

Mozes ging weer naar beneden, riep de leiders van het volk bijeen en vertelde hun wat de Here tegen hem had gezegd. Zij verklaarden eenstemmig: ‘Alles wat de Here ons opdraagt, zullen wij doen.’ Mozes bracht deze woorden van het volk aan de Here over. Toen zei de Here tegen Mozes: ‘Ik kom naar u toe in de vorm van een donkere wolk, zodat het hele volk kan horen hoe Ik met u spreek en ze u voortaan altijd zullen zien als mijn vertegenwoordiger. 10 Ga nu naar beneden en maak het volk klaar voor mijn bezoek. Heilig hen vandaag en morgen en laten ze hun kleren wassen. 11 Overmorgen daal Ik neer op de berg Sinaï en het hele volk zal er getuige van zijn. 12 Maak een duidelijke scheidslijn, waar het volk niet overheen mag komen en zeg hun: “Wees gewaarschuwd! Probeer niet de berg te beklimmen of de voet ervan aan te raken, want ieder die dat probeert, zal zeker sterven. 13 Als iemand de berg aanraakt, zal hij worden gestenigd of met pijlen worden doodgeschoten, zowel mens als dier.” Pas bij een langdurig blazen op de ramshoorn mag het volk de berg beklimmen.’

14 Mozes ging weer naar beneden, heiligde het volk en zij wasten hun kleren. 15 Hij gaf de opdracht: ‘Iedereen moet zich klaarmaken voor Gods bezoek over twee dagen. Niemand mag seksuele omgang met zijn vrouw hebben.’

16 Op de morgen van de derde dag kraakten donderslagen en flitste de bliksem rond de berg, terwijl een zware wolk op de top van de berg neerdaalde. Een enorm bazuingeschal klonk van de berg en de Israëlieten in het kamp beefden van angst.

17 Mozes leidde hen het kamp uit om God te ontmoeten en zij bleven staan aan de voet van de berg. 18 De hele berg Sinaï was omgeven met rook, omdat de Here in vuur neerdaalde. De rook steeg omhoog als uit een oven en de berg trilde ervan. 19 Het bazuingeschal werd luider en luider. Mozes sprak en God antwoordde hem in de donder. 20 Toen daalde de Here neer op de berg. Hij riep Mozes naar de top van de berg en Mozes klom omhoog. 21 Maar de Here zei tegen hem: ‘Ga weer naar beneden en waarschuw het volk dat niemand mag proberen een glimp van Mij op te vangen, want anders zullen velen sterven. 22 Zelfs de priesters moeten zich eerst heiligen voordat zij tot Mij naderen, want anders zullen ook zij sterven!’ 23 Maar Mozes antwoordde: ‘Het volk zal de berg niet beklimmen, want U hebt ons gewaarschuwd met: “Zet de berg af en beschouw hem als heilig.” ’ 24 Maar de Here hield aan en zei: ‘Ga naar beneden en neem Aäron mee naar boven. Maar laten de priesters en het volk beneden blijven, anders zal Ik hen vernietigen.’

25 Zo ging Mozes weer naar beneden en vertelde het volk wat God had gezegd.

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.

Israel at Mount Sinai

19 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, (A)they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from (B)Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before (C)the mountain.

And (D)Moses went up to God, and the Lord (E)called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: (F)‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how (G)I [a]bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now (H)therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and (I)keep My covenant, then (J)you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is (K)Mine. And you shall be to Me a (L)kingdom of priests and a (M)holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

So Moses came and called for the (N)elders of the people, and [b]laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then (O)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you (P)in the thick cloud, (Q)that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”

So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and (R)consecrate 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 the Lord will 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 yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. (S)Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; 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; (T)do not come near your wives.”

16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were (U)thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp (V)trembled. 17 And (W)Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now (X)Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon (Y)it in fire. (Z)Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and [c]the (AA)whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, (AB)Moses spoke, and (AC)God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through (AD)to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the (AE)priests who come near the Lord (AF)consecrate themselves, lest the Lord (AG)break out against them.”

23 But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, (AH)‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”

24 Then the Lord said 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 the Lord, lest He break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:4 sustained
  2. Exodus 19:7 set
  3. Exodus 19:18 LXX all the people