²¹ and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see^(A) the Lord and many of them perish.^(B)

¹⁹ But God struck down^(A) some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy^[a] of them to death because they looked^(B) into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them.

⁵ “Do not come any closer,”^(A) God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”^(B)

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(A) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(B) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[a](C)

Fulfill Your Vow to God

5 ^[a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see^(A) me and live.”

¹² Put limits^(A) 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^(B) 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^(C) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”^(D)

³ So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”