Exodus 19: Israel at Mount Sinai
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What happens?
In the third month after leaving Egypt, Israel camps in front of Mount Sinai. Yahweh says that if the people obey him and keep his covenant they will be his own possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, and the people answer, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do." Yahweh tells Moses to set bounds around the mountain, and on the third day he comes down in fire and smoke, with thunder and a very loud trumpet, and calls Moses up.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 12 of the 25 verses: his message for Israel in verses 3 to 6, his words to Moses in verses 9 to 13, 21 and 22, and 24. In verse 19 the text says God answered Moses by a voice, but it does not give his words. The people speak in verse 8, and Moses speaks in verses 15 and 23. In verse 23 Moses is repeating what Yahweh told him earlier, so it is not in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1In 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.
In plain English: In the third month after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day (the Hebrew says: on this day), they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
Good to know: The Hebrew says "on this day", and the verse does not say which day of the month it is. gave the fifteenth day of the second month for the arrival at the wilderness of Sin.
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2When 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.
In plain English: They had set out from Rephidim and come into the wilderness of Sinai, and they camped in the wilderness. There Israel camped in front of the mountain.
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3Moses 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:God speaks
In plain English: Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites:
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4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.God speaks
In plain English: 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
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5Now 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;God speaks
In plain English: Now if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, for all the earth is mine,
The Hebrew word: "Own possession" is segullah. The dictionary gives it as "wealth (as closely shut up)".
How it is translated: This Bible says "possession" in 6 of the 8 verses that use the word and "treasure" in the other 2 ( and ).
Good to know: says, "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession". Exodus 19:5 and 6 have "own possession", "a kingdom of priests" and "a holy nation".
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6and 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.”God speaks
In plain English: and you will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for me.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
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7Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.
In plain English: Moses came and called the elders of the people, and he set before them all these words that Yahweh had commanded him.
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8All the people answered together, and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.
In plain English: All the people answered together, "We will do everything Yahweh has spoken." Moses brought the people's words back to Yahweh.
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9Yahweh 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.God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people can hear when I speak with you, and so that they will also believe you forever." Moses told the people's words to Yahweh.
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10Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people and set them apart (make them holy) today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes
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11and 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.God speaks
In plain English: and be ready for the third day, because on the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Good to know: Exodus names Horeb in 3 verses (, and ) and Sinai in 13. The text of Exodus does not say that they are the same mountain. Many readers take them to be the same.
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12You 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.God speaks
In plain English: Set a boundary for the people all around and say, 'Be careful not to go up onto the mountain or touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death.
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13No 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.”God speaks
In plain English: No hand is to touch him; he must surely be stoned or shot. Whether animal or person, he must not live.' When the trumpet (literally: ram's horn) sounds a long blast, they may come up to the mountain."
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14Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
In plain English: Moses went down from the mountain to the people and set the people apart (made them holy), and they washed their clothes.
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15He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.”
In plain English: He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Do not go near a woman (meaning: do not have sexual relations)."
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16On 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.
In plain English: On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud trumpet (literally: ram's horn). All the people in the camp trembled.
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17Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
In plain English: Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
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18All 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.
In plain English: All of Mount Sinai smoked, because Yahweh came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook greatly.
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19When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
In plain English: As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice (or: in thunder).
The Hebrew word: "Voice" is qol, which the dictionary gives as "a voice or sound".
How it is translated: In its 24 verses in Exodus this Bible says "voice" in 14, "thunder" in 7 and "sound" in 4 (a few verses use two of these words). Two of the "thunder" verses are in this account: ("thunders") and ("thunderings").
What changes: Read as "in thunder", God answers Moses with the sound of thunder, as in verse 16.
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20Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
In plain English: 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.
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21Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish.God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through to Yahweh to gaze, or many of them will perish.
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22Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break out on them.”God speaks
In plain English: Even the priests who come near to Yahweh must make themselves holy, or Yahweh will break out against them."
Good to know: The text does not say who these priests are. In Yahweh tells Moses to bring Aaron and his sons near to serve him as priests.
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23Moses 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.’”
In plain English: Moses said to Yahweh, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, because you warned us, saying, 'Set a boundary around the mountain and make it holy.'"
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24Yahweh 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.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to him, "Go down. Then you are to come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, or he will break out against them."
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25So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
In plain English: So Moses went down to the people and told them (literally: said to them).
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