Exodus 19

Israel at Mount Sinai

1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they *Num. 33:15came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from *ch. 17:1,8Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before *See ch. 3:1the mountain, 3 while *ch. 20:21;[Acts 7:38] Moses went up to God. *ch. 3:4The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 *Deut. 29:2‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how *Deut. 32:11,12;Isa. 63:9;Rev. 12:14I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be *Deut. 7:6;14:2;26:18;Ps. 135:4;Mal. 3:17;Titus 2:14my treasured possession among all peoples, for *ch. 9:29;Deut. 10:14;Job 41:11;Ps. 24:1;50:12;1 Cor. 10:26all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a *1 Pet. 2:5,9;Rev. 1:6;5:10;20:6kingdom of priests and *Lev. 20:26;Deut. 7:6;14:21;26:19;28:9;Isa. 62:12;1 Pet. 2:9a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."

7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 *ch. 24:3,7;Deut. 5:27;26:17All the people answered together and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you *ch. 20:21;24:16;Deut. 4:11;Ps. 18:11;97:2;[Matt. 17:5] in a thick cloud, that *Deut. 4:12,36;[John 12:28,29] the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also *ch. 14:31believe you forever."

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and *Lev. 11:44,45;[Josh. 3:5] consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them *[Gen. 35:2;Lev. 15:5]wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day *ch. 34:5;[Deut. 33:2]the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. *Cited Heb. 12:20Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;*19:13 That is, shot with an arrow whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When *ver. 16, 19the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain." 14 So Moses *ver. 3went down from the mountain to the people and *[See ver. 10above] consecrated the people; *[See ver. 10above]and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the *ver. 11third day; *[1 Sam. 21:4,5;1 Cor. 7:5]do not go near a woman."

16 On the morning of the *[See ver. 15above] third day there were *Ps. 77:18;Heb. 12:18;Rev. 4:5;8:5;11:19thunders and lightnings and *ver. 9a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud *ver. 13trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp *Heb. 12:21trembled. 17 Then *Deut. 4:10Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now *ch. 24:17;Judg. 5:5;[Ps. 144:5;Isa. 6:4;Rev. 15:8] Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and *Ps. 68:8;Heb. 12:26the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the *[See ver. 16above] sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and *Neh. 9:13;Ps. 81:7God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to 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 to the Lord*[ch. 3:6;1 Sam. 6:19]to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord*Lev. 10:3consecrate themselves, lest the Lord*2 Sam. 6:8;1 Chr. 13:11break out against them." 23 And Moses said to the Lord, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, *ver. 12;[Josh. 3:4]‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’" 24 And the Lord said to him, "Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people *2 Sam. 6:8;1 Chr. 13:11break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.