1In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt , the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai . 2And when they were departed from Rephidim , and were come to the wilderness of Sinai , they encamped in the wilderness ; and there Israel encamped before the mount . 3And Moses went up unto God , and Jehovah 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 mine own possession from among all peoples : for all the earth is mine : 6and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests , and a holy nation . These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel .
God's Covenant with Israel
7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people , and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him . 8And all the people answered together , and said , All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do . And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah . 9And Jehovah said unto Moses , Lo , I come unto thee in a thick cloud , that the people may hear when I speak with thee , and may also believe thee for ever . And Moses told the words of the people unto Jehovah . 10And Jehovah said unto Moses , Go unto the people , and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments , 11and be ready against the third day ; for the third day Jehovah 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 : 13no hand shall touch him , but he shall surely be stoned , or shot through ; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live : when the trumpet soundeth long , they shall come up to the mount .
Preparation for Meeting God
14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people , and sanctified the people ; and they washed their garments . 15And he said unto the people , Be ready against the third day : come not near a woman. 16And it came to pass on the third day , when it was morning , that there were thunders and lightnings , and a thick cloud upon the mount , and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud ; and all the people that were in the camp trembled . 17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount . 18And mount Sinai , the whole of it , smoked, because Jehovah 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 waxed louder and louder , Moses spake , and God answered him by a voice . 20And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai , to the top of the mount : and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount ; and Moses went up . 21And Jehovah said unto Moses , Go down , charge the people , lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze , and many of them perish . 22And let the priests also , that come near to Jehovah , sanctify themselves , lest Jehovah break forth upon them . 23And Moses said unto Jehovah , The people cannot come up to mount Sinai : for thou didst charge us , saying, Set bounds about the mount , and sanctify it . 24And Jehovah said unto him , Go , 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 Jehovah , lest he break forth upon them . 25So Moses went down unto the people , and told them .