Exodus 19

Exodus 19:1 On the third new moon after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the open country of Sinai.

Exodus 19:2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the open country of Sinai, and they camped in the open country. There Israel camped before the mountain,

Exodus 19:3 while Moses went up to God. Yahveh called to him out of the mountain, and this is what he said “This is what you will say to the house of Jacob, and tell the sons of Israel:

Exodus 19:4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will really obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession among all peoples, because all the land is mine;

Exodus 19:6 and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you will speak to the sons of Israel.”

Exodus 19:7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that Yahveh had commanded him.

Exodus 19:8 All the people answered together and said, “All that Yahveh has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to Yahveh.

Exodus 19:9 And Yahveh told Moses, “Notice, I am going to come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear it when I speak with you and may also believe you permanently.” When Moses told the words of the people to Yahveh,

Exodus 19:10 Yahveh said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their garments

Exodus 19:11 and be ready for the third day. Because on the third day Yahveh will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.

Exodus 19:12 And you will set limits for the people all around, and this is what you should say, ‘Be careful not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain will be put to death.

Exodus 19:13 No hand should touch him, but he will be stoned or shot; whether animal or man, he will not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they will come up to the mountain.”

Exodus 19:14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments.

Exodus 19:15 And he said to the people, “Be prepared for the three days; by not going near a woman.”

Exodus 19:16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and flashes of lightning and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

Exodus 19:17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

Exodus 19:18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because Yahveh had come down on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, causing the whole mountain to violently trembled.

Exodus 19:19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses said something, and God answered him in thunder.

Exodus 19:20 Yahveh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And Yahveh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Exodus 19:21 And Yahveh said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, or else they will break through to Yahveh to look and many of them perish.

Exodus 19:22 Also let the priests who come near to Yahveh consecrate themselves, or else Yahveh will break out against them.”

Exodus 19:23 And Moses said to Yahveh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, and this is what you said, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.'”

Exodus 19:24 And Yahveh said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not allow the priests and the people to break through to come up to Yahveh, or else he will break out against them.”

Exodus 19:25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Exodus 19 quotes:

“Modern tourists who trek up Jebel Musa, a traditional site of the events of Exodus 19, can sympathize with poor Moses. The ascent is so difficult that often a climber passes out from the heat and exertion. In other words, Moses does something that is not only at the limits of human endurance but also seems unnecessary.”

Newsome, James D. Exodus. First edition, Westminster John Knox Press, 1998. p. 61.

“God appeared on Mount Sinai for the purpose of establishing a covenant with Israel (Exodus 19:5). Prior to this, the Israelites had been special to God as the descendants of the family that began with Abraham and Sarah. God had made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 15:5; 17:7-8; 26:24; 28:13-15). God remembered those promises and acted to deliver Israel from their suffering under Pharaoh. But now a new relationship was to be established: God would covenant with Israel.”

March, W. Eugene. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Abingdon Press, 2012. p. 31.

“In terms of numerical size Israel indeed became a ‘nation’ in Egypt. But in terms of a religious community with coherence in a covenant with God, they became a nation only later, when they entered into a formative and binding relationship, the covenantal relationship, with their Lord at Mount Sinai. At that point in their experience, when they became a covenant people, they were to function as a ‘‘holy nation’”’ (Exodus 19:6), totally set apart to serve their God, to worship Him, and to be of service to others.”

Hasel, Gerhard F. Covenant in Blood. Pacific Press Pub. Association, 1982. p. 48.