Israel Comes to Mount Sinai
Exodus 19In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain. Moses went up to God, and YHWH called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: Y’all have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried y’all on eagles’ wings, and brought y’all to myself. Now therefore, if y’all will listen-listen to my voice and keep my covenant, then y’all will be my own possession from among all peoples. Although all the earth is mine, y’all will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you are to say to the children of Israel.”
Moses came and summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which YHWH commanded him. All the people answered together, and said, “All that YHWH has spoken we will do.”
Moses reported the words of the people to YHWH. YHWH said to Moses, “Look, I am going to come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to YHWH. YHWH said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, and be ready for the third day; for on the third day YHWH will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. You are to are to set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Y’all be careful not to go up onto the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain must be executed-executed. No hand is to touch them, but instead they must be stoned-stoned or shot-shot. Whether it is animal or human, they must not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they may come up to the mountain.”
Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. He said to the people, “Y’all be ready for the third day. Y’all must not have sexual relations with a woman.”
On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai smoked, because YHWH descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. YHWH came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. YHWH called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
YHWH said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to YHWH to gaze, and many of them perish. Let the priests also, who come near to YHWH, sanctify themselves, lest YHWH break out on them.”
Moses said to YHWH, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
YHWH said to him, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to YHWH, lest he break out against them.”
So Moses went down to the people, and told them.