ExodusChapter 19

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¹The Israelites came to the Wilderness of Sinai in the third month after they left the land of Egypt. They came on the same day of the month that they had left. ²They had left Rephidim and come into the Wilderness of Sinai. Israel camped there in front of the mountain. ³Then Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him from the mountain. He said, "This is what you must say to the family of Jacob. Explain it to the people of Israel: ⁴'You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵Now if you will truly obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure out of all the nations. For the whole earth belongs to me. ⁶You will be a kingdom of priests for me and a holy nation.' These are the words you must speak to the Israelites." ⁷So Moses went back and called the elders of the people together. He told them all these words that the LORD had commanded him to say. ⁸All the people answered together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses took their answer back to the LORD. ⁹The LORD said to Moses, "Look, I will come to you in a thick cloud. Then the people will hear me when I speak with you. And they will always trust you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. ¹⁰Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people. Make them holy today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes ¹¹and be ready by the third day. On the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai while all the people watch. ¹²Mark off a border around the mountain for the people. Tell them, 'Be careful not to go up the mountain or even touch the bottom of it. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death. ¹³No hand may touch that person. He must be stoned or shot with arrows. Person or animal, it must not live.' Only when the ram's horn blows a long blast may they come near the mountain." ¹⁴Moses came down from the mountain to the people. He made them holy, and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman." ¹⁶On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was on the mountain. A very loud blast of the ram's horn rang out. All the people in the camp shook with fear. ¹⁷Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the bottom of the mountain. ¹⁸Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD had come down on it in fire. The smoke rose up like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shook hard. ¹⁹The sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him in the thunder. ²⁰The LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai. He called Moses to the top. So Moses went up. ²¹The LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people. They must not break through to look at the LORD. If they do, many of them will die. ²²Even the priests who come near the LORD must make themselves holy. If they don't, the LORD will break out against them." ²³But Moses said to the LORD, "The people can't come up Mount Sinai. You gave us a strong warning. You said, 'Put a border around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'" ²⁴The LORD answered, "Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD. If they do, he will break out against them." ²⁵So Moses went down to the people and told them.