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Israel at Sinai

^1 (C1)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of ^(C2)Sinai.² Then they set out from ^(C1)Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of ^(C2)the mountain.

³ Now Moses went up to God, and ^(C1)Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:⁴ '^(C1)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on ^(C2)eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.⁵ 'So now then, ^(C1)if you will indeed listen to My voice and ^(C2)keep My covenant, then you shall be ^(C3)My treasured possession among all the peoples, for ^(C4)all the earth is Mine;⁶ and you shall be to Me ^(C1)a kingdom of priests and ^(C2)a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

^7 (C1)So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him.^8 (C1)And all the people answered together and said, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh.⁹ Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in ^(C1)a thick cloud, so that the ^(C2)people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.

¹⁰ Yahweh also said to Moses, "Go to the people and ^(C1)set them apart as holy today and tomorrow, and let them ^(C2)wash their garments;¹¹ and let them be ready for the third day, for on ^(C1)the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.¹² "And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, '^(F1)Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; ^(C1)whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.¹³ 'No hand shall touch him, but ^(C1)he shall surely be stoned or surely ^(F1)shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to ^(C2)the mountain."¹⁴ So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and set the people apart as holy, and they washed their garments.¹⁵ And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."

^16 (C1)So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were ^(F1)thunder and lightning flashes and a ^(F2)thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.¹⁷ And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the ^(F1)foot of the mountain.

Yahweh Descends on Mount Sinai