Israel Camps at Sinai

19 Exactly three months after the Israelites had left Egypt, ·they [^Lthe sons/^Tchildren of Israel] ·reached [came to] the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sinai. ² When they left Rephidim, they came to the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sinai and camped in the ·desert [wilderness] in front of the mountain. ³ Then Moses went up on the mountain to God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Say this to the ·family [^Lhouse] of Jacob, and tell the ·people [sons; children] of Israel: ⁴ ‘Every one of you has seen what I did to the people of Egypt. You saw how I carried you out of Egypt, as if on eagle’s wings [^CGod protected and guided them; Deut. 32:11]. And I brought you here to me. ⁵ So now if you ·obey me [^Llisten to my voice] and keep my ·agreement [covenant; treaty], you will be my own possession [special treasure], chosen from all nations. Even though the whole earth is mine, ⁶ you will be my kingdom of priests and a holy nation [^Cset apart to serve God and bring others to him; Gen. 12:1–3].’ You must tell the ·Israelites [^Lthe sons/^Tchildren of Israel] these words.”

⁷ So Moses went down and called the elders of the people together. He told them all the words the Lord had commanded him to say. ⁸ All the people answered together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” Then Moses took ·their answer [^Lthe words of the people] back to the Lord.

⁹ And the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a ·thick [dense] cloud and speak to you. The people will hear me speaking with you and will always trust you.” Then Moses told the Lord ·what the people had said [^Lthe words of the people].