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Exodus

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Exodus 19

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.

1In 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.

Commentary · verse 1

Three months after leaving Egypt the Israelites made it to 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.

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.

Commentary · verse 2

Israel would stay in the wilderness of Sinai until Numbers 10. There were over 57 chapters of scripture dedicated to what happened to Israel in the year they camped at Mount Sinai.

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:

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;

Commentary · verse 3

Moses went up to God.

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:

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:

Commentary · verses 4-5

Notice, God used an if/then statement. It was up to the people to obey God's Voice and keep His Covenant in order for them to be God's own people. Here was the background on covenants:

In the Old Testament, the word for "covenant" was "beriyth" (Strong's #1285). The entry in Strong's Concordance stated: "from Strong's #1262 (in the sense of cutting [like Strong's #1254]); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh): - confederacy, covenant, league."

There were five parts to a covenant. For the complete explanation, look at Genesis 9:17. The first part was "passing through." In Exodus 14, we saw Israel passed through the Red Sea. The second part of a covenant was "agreement" where both parties must state they are in agreement with the terms of the covenant.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary · verses 6-8

Covenant Part 2: The people agreed to the deal with God. The third part of a covenant was "sharing."

Doctrines on this passage

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,

9And 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,

Commentary · verses 9-10

Moses was told to sanctify the people.

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.

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.

Commentary · verses 11-13

Setting "bounds" meant to set a boundary for the people.

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.

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.

16And 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.

Commentary · verses 14-16

It's no wonder the people trembled in response to this powerful event. This experience would have greatly affected their senses: thunders and lightnings - hearing and seeing; thick cloud - feeling and seeing; exceeding loud trumpet - hearing.

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.

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.

Commentary · verses 17-18

Remember, during Abram's Covenant with God in Genesis 15, a smoking furnace passed between bloody, furry flesh. This may have even affected their sense of smell, causing the impact of this event to be even greater.

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.

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.

Commentary · verses 19-20

Moses went up to God again. Was Aaron with Moses? Did Moses still need a spokesman?

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.

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.

Commentary · verses 21-22

God told Moses to warn the people not to force their way through to see the Lord. Even the priests had to be sanctified before they could approach God.

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.

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.

Commentary · verses 23-24

Aaron would join Moses the next time but no priests or other people would be allowed in God's presence.

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

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

Commentary · verse 25

Moses continued to obey God. Would the people?

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