Israel at Mount Sinai

1In the third month of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,† on that day, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai. 2And they journeyed from Rephidim and entered the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness. And Israel camped there before the mountain.

3And Moses went up to God, and YHWH called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and you shall tell to the sons of Israel: 4‘You⁺ yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and I bore you⁺ up on wings of eagles, and I brought you⁺ to Myself. 5And now if you⁺ will listen carefully to My voice and keep My covenant, then you⁺ shall be to Me a treasured possession from among all the peoples—for all the earth belongs to Me. 6And you⁺—you⁺ shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and he set before their faces all these words that YHWH commanded him. 8And all the people answered together and said, “All that YHWH has spoken, we will do.”

And Moses brought back the words of the people to YHWH.

9And YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in the thick cloud, so that the people may hear in My speaking with you, and also put their trust in you forever.”

And Moses told the words of the people to YHWH.

10And YHWH said to Moses, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and they shall wash their clothes, 11and let them be ready for the third day; for on the third day YHWH will come down in the eyes of all the people upon Mount Sinai.

12And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Guard yourselves from going up on the mountain and touching on its base. Everyone touching on the mountain must surely be put to death. 13A hand shall not touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or he shall be shot through, whether beast or man—he shall not live.’†

At the drawing out of the horn, they shall go up on the mountain.†”

14And Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and he sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not draw near to a woman.”

Yahweh Visits Sinai

16And it came to pass on the third day, when it was the morning, that there were voices and lightnings, and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the voice of the shofar was very mighty. And all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17And Moses brought the people out from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the bottom of the mountain.

18And Mount Sinai smoked—all of it—because YHWH descended on it in the fire. And its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and all the mountain trembled greatly. 19And the voice of the shofar was going on, and was very strong. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.

20And YHWH descended upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And YHWH called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses ascended. 21And YHWH said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to YHWH to see, and many from them fall. 22And also let the priests who draw near to YHWH shall sanctify themselves, lest YHWH break out against them.”

23And Moses said to YHWH, “The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, for You yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.’”

24And YHWH said to him, “Go, descend, and you shall come up, you and Aaron with you. And the priests and the people, do not let them break through to come up to YHWH, lest He break out against them.”

25And Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.