Exodus Chapter 19 marks a significant moment in the history of Israel. This chapter describes the Israelites’ arrival at Mount Sinai three months after leaving Egypt. Upon their arrival, Moses goes up the mountain to speak with God. God reminds Moses of how He carried the Israelites on eagles’ wings and brought them to Himself.
God proposes a covenant with the Israelites: if they obey His voice and keep His covenant, they will be a treasured possession among all peoples, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Moses conveys this message to the people, who collectively agree to do all that the Lord has spoken.
Moses relays the people’s response to God. Then, God gives instructions for the people to consecrate themselves in preparation for the third day, when He will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Specific instructions are given to set boundaries around the mountain, warning that touching the mountain would be deadly.
On the morning of the third day, there are thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembles. Moses leads the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stand at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai is covered in smoke because the Lord descends on it in fire, and the whole mountain trembles greatly.
The sound of the trumpet grows louder and louder. Moses speaks, and God answers him in thunder. God comes down on the top of Mount Sinai and calls Moses to the top of the mountain. Moses goes up, and God instructs him to go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to look, lest many of them perish. Moses is also to bring Aaron up with him, but the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out against them.
Moses goes down to the people and conveys God’s instructions, setting the stage for the subsequent revelation of the Ten Commandments.
In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
2 When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.
3 Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;
6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.
8 All the people answered together, and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.”
Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.
9 Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
10 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, 11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
12 You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”
14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15 He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.”
16 On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
20 Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish.
22 Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break out on them.”
23 Moses said to Yahweh, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’ ”
24 Yahweh said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest he break out against them.”
25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.