Exodus 19 ESV | WeDevote Bible

Israel at Mount Sinai

1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they 19:1 Num. 33:15came into the wilderness of Sinai.

2They set out from 19:2 ch. 17:1, 8Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before 19:2 See ch. 3:1the mountain,

3while 19:3 ch. 20:21; [Acts 7:38] Moses went up to God. 19:3 ch. 3:4The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:

419:4 Deut. 29:2‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how 19:4 Deut. 32:11, 12; Isa. 63:9; Rev. 12:14I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be 19:5 Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Ps. 135:4; Mal. 3:17; Titus 2:14my treasured possession among all peoples, for 19:5 ch. 9:29; Deut. 10:14; Job 41:11; Ps. 24:1; 50:12; 1 Cor. 10:26all the earth is mine;

6and you shall be to me a 19:6 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6kingdom of priests and 19:6 Lev. 20:26; Deut. 7:6; 14:21; 26:19; 28:9; Isa. 62:12; 1 Pet. 2:9a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

7So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.

819:8 ch. 24:3, 7; Deut. 5:27; 26:17All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

9And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you 19:9 ch. 20:21; 24:16; Deut. 4:11; Ps. 18:11; 97:2; [Matt. 17:5] in a thick cloud, that 19:9 Deut. 4:12, 36; [John 12:28, 29] the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also 19:9 ch. 14:31believe you forever.”

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord,

10the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and 19:10 Lev. 11:44, 45; [Josh. 3:5] consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them 19:10 [Gen. 35:2; Lev. 15:5]wash their garments

11and be ready for the third day. For on the third day 19:11 ch. 34:5; [Deut. 33:2]the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. 19:12 Cited Heb. 12:20Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.

13No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;19:13 That is, shot with an arrow whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When 19:13 ver. 16, 19the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

14So Moses 19:14 ver. 3went down from the mountain to the people and 19:14 [See ver. 10above] consecrated the people; 19:14 [See ver. 10above]and they washed their garments.

15And he said to the people, “Be ready for the 19:15 ver. 11third day; 19:15 [1 Sam. 21:4, 5; 1 Cor. 7:5]do not go near a woman.”

16On the morning of the 19:16 [See ver. 15above] third day there were 19:16 Ps. 77:18; Heb. 12:18; Rev. 4:5; 8:5; 11:19thunders and lightnings and 19:16 ver. 9a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud 19:16 ver. 13trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp 19:16 Heb. 12:21trembled.

17Then 19:17 Deut. 4:10Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

18Now 19:18 ch. 24:17; Judg. 5:5; [Ps. 144:5; Isa. 6:4; Rev. 15:8] Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and 19:18 Ps. 68:8; Heb. 12:26the whole mountain trembled greatly.

19And as the 19:19 [See ver. 16above] sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and 19:19 Neh. 9:13; Ps. 81:7God answered him in thunder.

20The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

21And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord19:21 [ch. 3:6; 1 Sam. 6:19]to look and many of them perish.

22Also let the priests who come near to the Lord19:22 Lev. 10:3consecrate themselves, lest the Lord19:22 2 Sam. 6:8; 1 Chr. 13:11break out against them.”

23And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, 19:23 ver. 12; [Josh. 3:4]‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’”

24And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people 19:24 2 Sam. 6:8; 1 Chr. 13:11break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.”

25So Moses went down to the people and told them.

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