God Comes Down on Mount Sinai

¹In the 3rd month after the Israelites left Egypt, on that very day, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. ²They had traveled from Rephidim and entered the wilderness of Sinai, where they set up camp. Israel camped there in front of the mountain. ³Moses climbed up the mountain to meet with God, and the LORD called out to him from the mountain: "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob — tell the people of Israel: ⁴'You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵So now, if you truly obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession above all other nations. The whole earth belongs to me, ⁶"You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you shall speak to the children of Israel." ⁷Moses came down and summoned the elders of the people. He laid before them everything the LORD had commanded him to say. ⁸The people all answered together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." Moses brought their response back to the LORD. ⁹The LORD told Moses, "I will come to you in a thick cloud so the people can hear me speaking with you and believe you forever." Then Moses reported the people's words to the LORD. ¹⁰The LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes ¹¹and be ready by the 3rd day, because on the 3rd day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in full view of all the people. ¹²Set up boundaries around the mountain for the people and warn them: 'Be careful not to go up the mountain or even touch its edge. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death. ¹³"No hand shall touch it, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through. Whether it is beast or man, it shall not live. When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount." ¹⁴Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵He told the people, "Be ready by the third day: do not come near your wives." ¹⁶On the morning of the 3rd day, thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and a thick cloud covered the mountain. A trumpet blast rang out so loud that everyone in the camp trembled. ¹⁷Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the base of the mountain. ¹⁸Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up like smoke from a furnace, and the entire mountain shook violently. ¹⁹The trumpet blast grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice. ²⁰The LORD came down onto the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses up to the summit. Moses climbed up. ²¹The LORD said to Moses, "Go back down and warn the people not to push past the boundaries to look at the LORD, or many of them will die. ²²Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will strike out against them." ²³Moses said to the LORD, "The people can't come up Mount Sinai. You yourself warned us to set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it." ²⁴The LORD replied, "Go down now, and then come back up with Aaron. But the priests and the people must not break through the boundaries to come up to the LORD, or he will strike out against them." ²⁵So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.