Exodus 19
Open in the reader1In the third month, on the same day of the month that the children of Strives-with-God had left the land of Two-Straits, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
2After they had set out from Resting-Places, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Strives-with-God camped there in front of the mountain.
3Then Drawn-Out went up to God, and He-Who-Is called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Heel-Grabber and explain to the sons of Strives-with-God:
4‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Two-Straits, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
5Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
6And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a devoted nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the children of Strives-with-God.”
7So Drawn-Out went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that He-Who-Is had commanded him.
8And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that He-Who-Is has spoken.” So Drawn-Out brought their words back to He-Who-Is.
9He-Who-Is said to Drawn-Out, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Drawn-Out relayed to He-Who-Is what the people had said.
10Then He-Who-Is said to Drawn-Out, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
11and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day He-Who-Is will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
13No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
14When Drawn-Out came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
15“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
16On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
17Then Drawn-Out brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because He-Who-Is had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
19And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Drawn-Out spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
20He-Who-Is descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Drawn-Out to the summit. So Drawn-Out went up,
21and He-Who-Is said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see He-Who-Is, lest many of them perish.
22Even the priests who approach He-Who-Is must consecrate themselves, or He-Who-Is will break out against them.”
23But Drawn-Out said to He-Who-Is, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as devoted.’”
24And He-Who-Is replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to He-Who-Is, or He will break out against them.”
25So Drawn-Out went down to the people and spoke to them.