Israel at Mount Sinai

1 In the third month after the sons of Israel went out from the land of Egypt, on that day they came to the desert of Sinai. 2 And they traveled from Rephidim and came to the desert of Sinai, and camped there beside the mountain. 3 And Moses went up before the Lord. And the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the sons of Israel: 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you as on eagles' wings, and brought you near to My worship: 5 and now, if you will truly accept My Memra and keep My covenant, you shall be more beloved before Me than all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you, before Me, shall be kings, priests, a holy people.⁠a These are the words which you shall speak with the sons of Israel. 7 And Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set all these words before them, as the Lord had commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together and said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do. And Moses brought the words of the people back before the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, Look, I will be revealed to you in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also trust in you forever. And Moses told the words of the people before the Lord. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, Go to the people and prepare them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes; 11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the Lord will be revealed before the eyes of all the people on Mount Sinai. 12 And you shall set a boundary for the people all around, saying, Take care not to go up on the mountain or to touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him; for he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether animal or person, he shall not live. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall be allowed to come up to the mountain. 14 And Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and prepared the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, Be ready on the third day; do not go near a woman. 16 And on the morning of the third day there were voices and lightning and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of the trumpet very loud; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses led the people out of the camp to meet the Memra of the Lord;⁠b and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 And Mount Sinai was all smoking, because the Lord was revealed upon it in fire; and its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and he was answered by a voice from the presence of the Lord.⁠c 20 And the Lord was revealed on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain; and Moses went up. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, Go down, warn the people not to break through before the Lord to look, or many of them will fall. 22 And let the priests also, who come near to minister before the Lord, sanctify themselves, or the Lord will strike them down. 23 And Moses said before the Lord, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, Set a boundary around the mountain, and sanctify it. 24 But the Lord said to him, Go down, and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up before the Lord, or He will strike them down. 25 And Moses went down to the people and spoke with them.