The Narrative of the Sinai Revelation and Israel’s Response

²² The Lord said these things to your entire assembly at the mountain from the middle of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness with a loud voice, and that was all he said.^[a] Then he inscribed the words^[b] on two stone tablets and gave them to me. ²³ Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me. ²⁴ You said, “The Lord our God has shown us his great glory,^[c] and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us^[d] that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. ²⁵ But now, why should we die, because this intense fire will consume us? If we keep hearing the voice of the Lord our God we will die! ²⁶ Who is there from the entire human race^[e] who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived? ²⁷ You go near so that you can hear everything the Lord our God is saying and then you can tell us whatever he^[f] says to you; then we will pay attention and do it.” ²⁸ When the Lord heard you speaking to me, he^[g] said to me, “I have heard what these people have said to you—they have spoken well. ²⁹ If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey^[h] all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever. ³⁰ Go and tell them, ‘Return to your tents!’ ³¹ But as for you, remain here with me so I can declare to you all the commandments,^[i] statutes, and ordinances that you are to teach them, so that they can carry them out in the land I am about to give them.”^{[j] 32} Be careful, therefore, to do exactly what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn right or left! ³³ Walk just as he^[k] has commanded you so that you may live, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long^[l] in the land you are going to possess.