Exodus 19

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 19

1¶ In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they [into] the wilderness of Sinai.

2For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come [to] the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine:

6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

9¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

10And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, [that ye] go [not] up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

13There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether [it be] beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at [your] wives.

16¶ And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that [was] in the camp trembled.

17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

20And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses [up] to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

21And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

22And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

23And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

24And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

25So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, where the LORD called Moses to the mountain. God offered Israel a covenant, promising them to be a peculiar treasure and a holy nation if they obeyed, to which the people agreed. The LORD then prepared to descend upon the mountain, commanding the people to sanctify themselves and set boundaries around the sacred mount. On the third day, God descended amidst thunder, lightning, smoke, and a trumpet blast, establishing His presence.

Medium Summary

Upon reaching the wilderness of Sinai in the third month after their exodus, the children of Israel camped before Mount Sinai. Moses ascended the mountain, where the LORD addressed him, reminding Israel of His deliverance and proposing a covenant. God promised to make them a "peculiar treasure," a "kingdom of priests," and a "holy nation" if they would obey His voice and keep His covenant. The people unanimously affirmed their commitment, declaring, "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do." Subsequently, the LORD instructed Moses to prepare the people for His descent on the third day, commanding them to sanctify themselves, wash their clothes, and establish strict boundaries around the mountain, with death as the penalty for transgression. On the appointed day, Mount Sinai was enveloped in thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and smoke, as the LORD descended in fire, causing the mountain to quake. Moses then led the trembling people to the foot of the mount, and the LORD reiterated warnings against breaching the sacred boundaries.

Long Summary

In the third month after their departure from Egypt, the children of Israel arrived and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai, positioning themselves before the sacred mount. Moses ascended the mountain, where the LORD called to him, initiating a divine communication. God reminded the Israelites, through Moses, of His powerful deliverance from Egypt, likening it to bearing them on "eagles' wings." He then presented a conditional covenant, promising that if they would diligently obey His voice and keep His covenant, they would become His "peculiar treasure" above all peoples, a "kingdom of priests," and a "holy nation." Moses descended and conveyed these divine words to the elders, who in turn presented them to the entire congregation. The people responded with a unified declaration, "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do," which Moses then reported back to the LORD. The LORD subsequently informed Moses that He would come in a thick cloud, enabling the people to hear His voice and thereby believe Moses perpetually. He commanded Moses to sanctify the people for two days, instructing them to wash their clothes and prepare themselves for His descent on the third day. Strict boundaries were to be set around Mount Sinai, with a severe warning that anyone, man or beast, who touched the mountain's border would be put to death by stoning or shooting, only permitted to approach when a long trumpet sounded. Moses conveyed these instructions, including a command for marital abstinence. On the morning of the third day, the mountain manifested a profound theophany: thunders, lightnings, a dense cloud, and an exceedingly loud trumpet sound caused the entire camp to tremble. Moses led the people out to the nether part of the mount to meet God. Mount Sinai was entirely enveloped in smoke, ascending like a furnace, as the LORD descended upon it in fire, causing the whole mountain to quake greatly. As the trumpet's voice grew louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him. The LORD then called Moses to the very top of the mount, reiterating the charge to warn the people against breaking through to gaze, lest they perish, and requiring even the priests to sanctify themselves. Moses reminded the LORD of the already established bounds, but the LORD insisted that Moses and Aaron ascend, while strictly forbidding the people and other priests from breaching the sacred perimeter. Moses then descended to convey these final instructions to the people.

Core Concepts

  • Divine CovenantThe LORD offers a covenant to Israel, promising them to be a "peculiar treasure," a "kingdom of priests," and a "holy nation" if they obey His voice and keep His covenant, highlighting God's initiative and Israel's required obedience.
  • Israel's AffirmationThe entire people of Israel unanimously respond to God's proposed covenant by declaring, "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do," signifying their collective agreement and commitment to the divine terms.
  • Sanctification and PreparationBefore God's descent, the people are commanded to sanctify themselves, wash their clothes, and abstain from marital relations for two days, emphasizing the need for ritual purity and readiness to encounter the holy presence of God.
  • Sacred BoundariesStrict limits are set around Mount Sinai, with a severe penalty of death for anyone, man or beast, who touches the mountain, illustrating the awesome holiness of God and the necessity of respecting divine space.
  • Theophany at SinaiOn the third day, God descends upon Mount Sinai amidst thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, fire, smoke, and an exceedingly loud trumpet sound, demonstrating a powerful and awe-inspiring manifestation of His presence to the trembling people.
  • Moses as MediatorMoses repeatedly ascends and descends the mountain, acting as the sole intermediary between the LORD and the people, conveying God's commands and the people's responses, establishing his unique role in the covenant.
  • God's Holiness and DangerThe repeated warnings against breaking through the boundaries, even for priests, and the immediate threat of perishing, underscore the immense holiness of God and the inherent danger of approaching Him without proper reverence and permission.