Topical Bible: Mount Sina

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Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
Mount Sinai, also known as Horeb, is a significant biblical location primarily recognized as the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. It holds a central place in the narrative of the Exodus and is a symbol of God's covenant with Israel.

Biblical References:
Mount Sinai is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In Exodus 19:20 , it is written, "The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up." This event marks the beginning of the giving of the Law, a foundational moment for the Israelites.

Geographical Location:
The exact geographical location of Mount Sinai is a subject of debate among scholars and theologians. Traditionally, it is identified with Jebel Musa in the Sinai Peninsula. However, some propose alternative locations, including sites in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Despite the uncertainty, its spiritual significance remains undisputed.

Theophany and Covenant:
Mount Sinai is the site of a profound theophany, where God manifested His presence to the Israelites. Exodus 19:18 describes the scene: "Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently." This dramatic encounter underscores the holiness and power of God.

The giving of the Ten Commandments and the Law at Sinai established the covenant between God and the Israelites. This covenant is central to the identity and religious life of Israel, as it set them apart as God's chosen people with a unique mission and moral code.

Significance in Israelite Worship:
Mount Sinai is not only a place of divine revelation but also a symbol of God's guidance and provision. The Israelites camped at the base of the mountain for nearly a year, during which they received instructions for building the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that would accompany them on their journey (Exodus 25-31).

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, Mount Sinai is referenced in Galatians 4:24-25 , where Paul uses it allegorically to contrast the old covenant of the Law with the new covenant of grace through Christ. "These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar."

Theological Implications:
Mount Sinai represents the intersection of divine law and human responsibility. It is a place where God's holiness and justice are revealed, demanding obedience and reverence. The events at Sinai highlight the seriousness of God's covenant and the call to live according to His statutes.

Conclusion:
Mount Sinai remains a powerful symbol of God's revelation and covenant with His people. Its legacy continues to influence Judeo-Christian thought, emphasizing the importance of obedience, holiness, and the transformative power of divine encounters.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Mount Sina

the Greek form of the well-known name Sinai. (Acts 7:30,38)

Library

Book xi. Epistle i. To John, Abbot.
... Book XI. Epistle I. To John, Abbot. To John, Abbot. Gregory to John, Abbot
of Mount Sina [123] . The Epistle of thy Humility testifies ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/book xi epistle i to.htm

Hebrews xii. 18-24
... [1.] Wonderful indeed were the things in the Temple, the Holy of Holies; and again
awful were those things also that were done at Mount Sina, "the fire, the ...
/.../homily xxxii hebrews xii 18-24.htm

Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
... Fasting forty days and nights in Mount Sina, he received the tables of the law;
among lightnings and thunders, while all the people trembled, he was attached ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxviii to augustine bishop.htm

Psalm LXVIII.
... for manna He rained upon His people: [2709] that the same thing also is that which
followeth, "Mount Sina from the face of the God of Israel," [2710] "with ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxviii.htm

Acts vii. 35
... "This is he, that was in the Church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake
to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xvii acts vii 35.htm

Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober ...
... Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children, the visible earthly
church, which received the external ceremonial law from Mount Sina, is not, by ...
/.../xiv proposition xiv fifthly as.htm

Galatians Chapter iv.
... The bond-woman was called Hagar, and "Hagar" is the word for Mount Sinai in the ... The
shorter reading, For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia' (to gar Sina oros estin ...
/.../galatians chapter iv.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... the right bank of the Euphrates, at the eastern extremity of Mount Bisuru, near ... the
Patina lay the important Phoenician cities, Arvad, Arka, and Sina; and on ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm