1Exactly three months after the people of Israel left Egypt, they came to the Desert of Sinai.2After they started out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai. They camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.3Then Moses went up to God. The LORD called out to him from the mountain. He said, ‘Here is what I want you to say to my people, who belong to Jacob’s family. Tell the Israelites,4“You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to myself.5Now obey me completely. Keep my covenant. If you do, then out of all the nations you will be my special treasure. The whole earth is mine.6But you will be a kingdom of priests to serve me. You will be my holy nation.” That is what you must tell the Israelites.’7So Moses went back. He sent for the elders of the people. He explained to them everything the LORD had commanded him to say.8All the people answered together. They said, ‘We will do everything the LORD has said.’ So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.9The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, ‘I am going to come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you. They will always put their trust in you.’ Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.10The LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart for me. Let them wash their clothes.11Have the people ready by the third day. On that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai. Everyone will see it.12Put limits for the people around the mountain. Tell them, “Be careful that you do not go near the mountain. Do not even touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain must be put to death.13Do not lay a hand on any of them. Kill them with stones or shoot them with arrows. Whether they are people or animals, do not let them live.” They may go near the mountain only when the ram’s horn gives out a long blast.’14Moses went down the mountain to the people. After he set them apart for the LORD, they washed their clothes.15Then he spoke to the people. He said, ‘Get ready for the third day. Don’t have sex.’16On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain. A trumpet gave out a very loud blast. Everyone in the camp trembled with fear.17Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.18Smoke covered Mount Sinai, because the LORD came down on it in fire. The smoke rose up from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain trembled and shook.19The sound of the trumpet got louder and louder. Then Moses spoke. And the voice of God answered him.20The LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai. He told Moses to come to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up.21The LORD said to him, ‘Go down and warn the people. They must not force their way through to see the LORD. If they do, many of them will die.22The priests approach the LORD when they serve him. But even they must set themselves apart for the LORD. If they do not, his anger will break out against them.’23Moses said to the LORD, ‘The people can’t come up Mount Sinai. You yourself warned us. You said, “Put limits around the mountain. Set it apart as holy.” ’24The LORD replied, ‘Go down. Bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through. They must not come up to the LORD. If they do, his anger will break out against them.’25So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Exodus 19
English Standard Version
Israel at Mount Sinai
1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. (Nu 33:15)2They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, (Ex 3:1; Ex 17:1; Ex 17:8)3while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: (Ex 3:4; Ex 20:21; Ac 7:38)4‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. (De 29:2; De 32:11; Isa 63:9; Re 12:14)5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; (Ex 9:29; De 7:6; De 10:14; De 14:2; De 26:18; Job 41:11; Ps 24:1; Ps 50:12; Ps 135:4; Mal 3:17; 1Co 10:26; Tit 2:14)6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” (Le 20:26; De 7:6; De 14:21; De 26:19; De 28:9; Isa 62:12; 1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9; Re 1:6; Re 5:10; Re 20:6)7So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.8All 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. (Ex 24:3; Ex 24:7; De 5:27; De 26:17)9And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, (Ex 14:31; Ex 20:21; Ex 24:16; De 4:11; De 4:12; De 4:36; Ps 18:11; Ps 97:2; Mt 17:5; Joh 12:28)10the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments (Ge 35:2; Le 11:44; Le 15:5; Jos 3:5)11and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. (Ex 34:5; De 33:2)12And 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. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. (Heb 12:20)13No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;[1] whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” (Ex 19:16; Ex 19:19)14So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. (Ex 19:3; Ex 19:10)15And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” (Ex 19:11; 1Sa 21:4; 1Co 7:5)16On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. (Ex 19:9; Ex 19:13; Ex 19:15; Ps 77:18; Heb 12:18; Heb 12:21; Re 4:5; Re 8:5; Re 11:19)17Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. (De 4:10)18Now 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 the whole mountain trembled greatly. (Ex 24:17; Jud 5:5; Ps 68:8; Ps 144:5; Isa 6:4; Heb 12:26; Re 15:8)19And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. (Ex 19:16; Ne 9:13; Ps 81:7)20The 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.21And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. (Ex 3:6; 1Sa 6:19)22Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” (Le 10:3; 2Sa 6:8; 1Ch 13:11)23And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” (Ex 19:12; Jos 3:4)24And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” (2Sa 6:8; 1Ch 13:11)25So Moses went down to the people and told them.