Israel at Sinai

19 ^(A)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of ^(B)Sinai. ² Then they set out from ^(C)Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of ^(D)the mountain.

³ Now Moses went up to God, and ^(E)Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ⁴ ‘^(F)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on ^(G)eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. ⁵ So now then, ^(H)if you will indeed listen to My voice and ^(I)keep My covenant, then you shall be ^(J)My treasured possession among all the peoples, for ^(K)all the earth is Mine; ⁶ and you shall be to Me ^(L)a kingdom of priests and ^(M)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

^7 (N)So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him. ^8 (O)And all the people answered together and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh. ⁹ Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in ^(P)a thick cloud, so that the ^(Q)people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.

¹⁰ Yahweh also said to Moses, “Go to the people and ^(R)set them apart as holy today and tomorrow, and let them ^(S)wash their garments; ¹¹ and let them be ready for the third day, for on ^(T)the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. ¹² And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘^[a]Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; ^(U)whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. ¹³ No hand shall touch him, but ^(V)he shall surely be stoned or surely ^[b]shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to ^(W)the mountain.” ¹⁴ So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and set the people apart as holy, and they washed their garments. ¹⁵ And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

^16 (X)So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were ^[c]thunder and lightning flashes and a ^[d]thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the ^[e]foot of the mountain.

Yahweh Descends on Mount Sinai

^18 (Y)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Yahweh descended upon it ^(Z)in fire; and its smoke ascended like ^(AA)the smoke of a furnace, and ^(AB)the whole mountain trembled violently. ¹⁹ And the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder; then Moses spoke and ^(AC)God answered him with ^[f]thunder. ^20 (AD)And Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. ²¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go down, ^[g]warn the people, lest ^(AE)they break through to Yahweh to see, and many of them ^[h]perish. ²² Also let the ^(AF)priests who come near to Yahweh set themselves apart as holy, lest Yahweh break out against them.” ²³ And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You ^[i]warned us, saying, ‘^(AG)Set bounds about the mountain, and set it apart as holy.’” ²⁴ Then Yahweh said to him, “^[j]Go down and come up again, ^(AH)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the ^(AI)priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest He break out against them.” ²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and told them.