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Chapter Summary
The Israelites camped near the mountain in Sinai. The LORD spoke to Moses on the mountain and made his covenant with Israel.
1In the third month of the departure of Israel from the land of Egypt, in that day, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. 2Thus, setting out from Raphidim, and going directly to the desert of Sinai, they encamped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents away from the region of the mountain. 3Then Moses ascended to God. And the Lord called to him from the mountain, and he said: “This you shall say to the house of Jacob, and announce to the sons of Israel: 4‘You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, in what way I carried you upon the wings of eagles and how I have taken you for myself. 5If, therefore, you will hear my voice, and you will keep my covenant, you will be to me a particular possession out of all people. For all the earth is mine. 6And you will be to me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the sons of Israel.” 7Moses went, and calling together those greater by birth among the people, he set forth all the words which the Lord had commanded. 8And all the people responded together: “Everything that the Lord has spoken, we shall do.” And when Moses had related the words of the people to the Lord, 9the Lord said to him: “Soon now, I will come to you in the mist of a cloud, so that the people may hear me speaking to you, and so that they may believe you continuously.” Therefore, Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord, 10who said to him: “Go to the people, and sanctify them today, and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments. 11And let them be prepared on the third day. For on the third day, the Lord will descend, in the sight of all the people, over Mount Sinai. 12And you will establish limits for the people all around, and you will say to them: ‘Take care not to ascend to the mountain, and that you do not touch its parts. All who touch the mountain, shall die a death.’ 13Hands shall not touch him, but he shall be crushed with stones, or he shall be pierced through with darts. Whether it be a beast or a man, he shall not live. For when the trumpet begins to sound, perhaps they might go up toward the mountain.” 14And Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and he sanctified them. And when they had washed their garments, 15he said to them, “Be prepared on the third day, and do not draw near to your wives.”
16And now, the third day arrived and the morning dawned. And behold, thunders began to be heard, and also lightning flashed, and a very dense cloud covered the mountain, and the noise of the trumpet resounded vehemently. And the people who were in the camp were fearful. 17And when Moses had led them out to meet God, from the place of the camp, they stood at the base of the mountain. 18Then all of Mount Sinai was smoking. For the Lord had descended over it with fire, and smoke ascended from it, as from a furnace. And the entire mountain was terrible. 19And the sound of the trumpet gradually increased to be louder, and extended to be longer. Moses was speaking, and God was answering him. 20And the Lord descended over Mount Sinai, to the very top of the mountain, and he called Moses to its summit. And when he had ascended there, 21he said to him: “Descend, and call the people to witness, lest they might be willing to transgress the limits, so as to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them might perish. 22Likewise, the priests who approach toward the Lord, let them be sanctified, lest he strike them down.” 23And Moses said to the Lord: “The people are not able to ascend to Mount Sinai. For you testified, and you commanded, saying: ‘Set limits around the mountain, and sanctify it.’” 24And the Lord said to him, “Go, descend. And you shall ascend, and Aaron with you. But let not the priests or the people transgress the limits, nor ascend to the Lord, lest perhaps he may put them to death.” 25And Moses descended to the people, and he explained everything to them.