FRAMEWORKS:
Exodus 19 :
At Mount Sinai
v.1,2
Israel arrive at Mount Sinai
v.3-6
Moses FIRST trip up the Mountain
v.7,8
Israel commit to the Lord
v.9-13
The Lord's Instructions for the People
v.14-19
Preparation of the Nation to Meet God
v.20-25
Moses' further trip up the Mountain
v.1,2
Israel arrive at Mount Sinai
v.1
On
the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on
that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.
v.2
After
they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai,
and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
[Notes:
Two and a half months after the Exodus, leaving their
grasslands in Goshen, Israel arrive at the foot of Mount Sinai.]
v.3-6
Moses FIRST trip up the Mountain
v.3
Then
Moses went up to God, and the LORD
called
to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say
to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people
of Israel:
v.4
‘You
yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you
on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
v.5,6
Now
if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations
you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth
is mine, you
will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. '
These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
[Notes:
Whether Moses is called, or remembers where he had previously
met the Lord, he goes up the mountain and the Lord conveys the
basics of the covenant – obey me and be my people.]
v.7,8
Israel commit to the Lord
v.7
So
Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set
before them all the words the LORD
had
commanded him to speak.
v.8
The
people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD
has
said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD
.
[Notes:
Moses goes down and conveys this to the people who agree
it. Their FIRST COMMITMENT. Moses appears to go back up the mountain
and conveys it to the Lord.]
v.9-13
The Lord's Instructions for the People
v.9
The
LORD
said
to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that
the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put
their trust in you.” Then Moses told the LORD
what
the people had said.
v.10,11
And
the LORD
said
to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow.
Have them wash their clothes and
be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come
down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
v.12
Put
limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful
that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it.
Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.
v.13
They
are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid
on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.' Only
when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they approach the
mountain.”
[Notes:
The Lord says He will come a third time to speak but
everyone must stay back. The people will hear him and believe
Moses.]
v.14-19
Preparation of the Nation to Meet God
v.14
After
Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated
them, and they washed their clothes.
v.15
Then
he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day.
Abstain from sexual relations.”
v.16
On
the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning,
with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet
blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
v.17
Then
Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they
stood at the foot of the mountain.
v.18
Mount
Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD
descended
on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a
furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.
v.19
As
the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and
the voice of God answered him.
[Notes:
The people make special preparations to appear before
the Lord as a holy people. Cloud & fire appear on the mountain
and the Lord speaks.]
v.20-25
Moses' further trip up the Mountain
v.20
The
LORD
descended
to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain.
So Moses went up
v.21
and
the LORD
said
to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their
way through to see the LORD
and
many of them perish.
v.22
Even
the priests, who approach the LORD
,
must consecrate themselves, or the Lord
will
break out against them.”
v.23
Moses
said to the LORD
,
“The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned
us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'”
v.24
The
LORD
replied,
“Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the
people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD
,
or he will break out against them.”
v.25
So
Moses went down to the people and told them.
[Notes:
How many of the above sections are an overlap is difficult
to decide but again the Lord calls Moses to go up the mountain
and confirms the warning for the people not to come near. The
‘priests' referred to were probably the young men Moses soon uses
to offer sacrifices [24:5]. The Lord says to bring Aaron up the
mountain.]
Continue to Chapter 20