Exodus 19

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived at the wilderness of Sinai.

After they left Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai, and they set up their tents at the base of the mountain. \*

Moses climbed up {the mountain to talk} with God. God called to him from {the top} of the mountain and said, “This is what I want you to say to the Israelite people, the descendants of Jacob,

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You have seen what I did for you and how I brought you here to me as if I had carried you on top of eagles’ wings.

Therefore, if you very carefully do what I tell you to do and obey all that I require in what we agreed by swearing to, you will be my own people. You will be my personal property from among all of the nations. Although all the earth is mine,

you will be my priestly kingdom and a nation dedicated to me.’ That is what you must tell the Israelites.” \*

So Moses went down the mountain and called the elders of the people. He told them everything that God had told him to tell them.

The people all said, “We will do everything that God has told us to do.” Then Moses climbed back up the mountain and reported to God what the people had said. \*

Then God said to Moses “Listen carefully. I will come to you from inside a thick cloud. When I am speaking to you, the people will hear it, and they will always believe that you are their leader.” Then Moses told God what the people said. \*

Then God said to Moses, “Go back down to the people again. {Tell them to get ready for my coming.} They must purify themselves today and tomorrow. They must also wash their clothes

so they will be ready on the third day. On that day I will come down to Mount Sinai to where all the people can see me. \*

You must make a boundary around the base of the mountain to protect the people. Tell them, ‘Be sure that you do not climb the mountain or even touch it. You must kill anyone who touches the base of the mountain.

Do not let anyone touch any person or any animal that touches the mountain. Therefore, you must kill any person or animal that touches the mountain by throwing stones at it or shooting it with arrows.’ But when you hear a long, loud trumpet sound, the people can come close to the base of the mountain.” \*

So Moses went down the mountain again and told the people to purify {themselves and to get ready for God’s coming. They did what Moses told them to do,} and they also washed their clothes.

Then Moses said to the people, “Be ready on the third day, and you men must not have sexual relations with any women {until after then}.” \*

On the third day, during the morning, there was thunder, lightning, a very dark cloud on the mountain, and a very loud horn sound. The people in the camp shook because they were very afraid.

Then Moses led the people outside the camp to meet with God. They stood around the base of the mountain. \*

Then God descended on Mount Sinai, surrounded by fire. That caused the entire mountain to smoke. The smoke rose up like the smoke from the chimney of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.

As the sound of the horn continued to become louder, Moses spoke to God, and God answered him in a thunderous voice. \*

Then God came down again onto the top of Mount Sinai, and he summoned Moses to come up to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up.

God said to Moses, “Go down again and warn the people not to cross the boundary in order to look at me. If they do that, many of them will die.

Also, the priests who come near me must purify themselves. If they do not do that, I will punish them.” \*

Then Moses said to God, “The people will not climb the mountain because you commanded them, saying, ‘Set a boundary around the mountain, to consecrate it.’” \*

God said to Moses, “Go down the mountain and bring Aaron back up with you. But do not allow the priests or other people to cross the boundary to come up to me. If they cross it, I will punish them.”

So Moses went down the mountain again and told the people what God had said. \*