Summary

Exodus 19 describes the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where God establishes a covenant with them. God instructs Moses to prepare the people for His appearance on the mountain, emphasizing the need for holiness and obedience.

Key Points

• The Israelites arrive at the wilderness of Sinai in the third month after leaving Egypt and camp before the mountain (Exodus 19:1-2).

• God calls Moses up the mountain and instructs him to remind the people of how He delivered them from Egypt (Exodus 19:3-4).

• God proposes a covenant, promising that if the Israelites obey His voice and keep His covenant, they will be His treasured possession and a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:5-6).

• Moses conveys God's words to the elders, and the people agree to do all that the Lord has spoken (Exodus 19:7-8).

• God instructs Moses to sanctify the people and have them wash their clothes in preparation for the third day when He will come down on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10-11).

• Boundaries are set around the mountain to prevent the people from approaching it, under penalty of death (Exodus 19:12-13).

• On the third day, there are thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and the sound of a trumpet, causing the people to tremble (Exodus 19:16).

• Moses leads the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stand at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 19:17).

• Mount Sinai is covered in smoke because the Lord descends upon it in fire, and the whole mountain quakes greatly (Exodus 19:18).

• The sound of the trumpet grows louder, and Moses speaks, with God answering him by voice (Exodus 19:19).

• God calls Moses up to the top of the mountain and instructs him to warn the people again not to break through to gaze at the Lord (Exodus 19:20-21).

• Moses is told to bring Aaron up with him, but the priests and the people must not come up to the mountain (Exodus 19:24).