Israel at Mount Sinai
On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
- Exodus 19 starts the third month after leaving Egypt
- Israel will be at Mount Sinai for almost a year – and we have 59 chapters dedicated to this year alone!!
- This fulfills the sign God gave Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:12: “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:
- Why does God say ‘house of Jacob’ and Israel interchangeably? I know Hebrew likes poetic parallelism?
4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
- Exodus 19:4 is the first biblical use of the “eagles’ wings” image
- Deuteronomy 32:11-12 “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings… the LORD alone guided him.”
- Notice the destinations! God won’t just bring Israel to the Promised Land, but He brings them to Himself.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
- One of my favorite Hebrew words first appears here: “… you shall be my treasured possession (סְגֻלָּה, segullah) among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.”
- Usually this word is saved for Israel in the Old Testament.
- Three descriptions
- My treasured possession
- A kingdom of priests
- A holy nation
- 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”
- Israel has been under Egypt and Pharaoh for so long and now finally they can belong to YHWH.
- 19:8 “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.”
- 24:7 “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
- 32 Golden calf :(
When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
- Why couldn’t men come near their wives/ have sex with their wives before God arrived? Is there Leviticus law of having sex within marriage being unclean? –
- – after writing this yes there is : Leviticus 15:18 “If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water and be unclean until evening.”
16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
- Who blew the trumpet? Angels?
20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
- Again I love the fire imagery with YHWH – fire is usually seen as evil (hell, satan, etc) but YHWH is associated with fire so much more!
- Hard to think that after seeing this amazing image, that in 40 days the Israelites would do unspeakable things and worship a golden calf.
- What did Moses feel like going up that mountain during the fire, thunder, smoke, trumpets, etc??
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”
- Who are these priests! Aaron and his sons haven’t been formally appointed yet.
23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
I like this list from Bible Project Key Terms for Sinai Narratives https://bibleproject.com/classroom/exodus-overview-carmen-imes/sessions/15
- Theophany: the visible manifestation of God’s presence
- Covenant: a formal, permanent agreement between two parties
- Decalogue: the Ten Commandments
- Stipulations: the requirements of the covenant to which both parties agree
- Ratification: the official ritual by which a covenant takes effect
- Tabernacle: the authorized place of God’s holy presence (tent)
- Priesthood: the official tabernacle service by authorized men from Levi
- Ordination: the official ritual in which someone becomes a priest
- Consecrate: set apart, make holy
- Cult: the entire system of worship (tabernacle, priests, sacrifices)
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