1 ARST On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived at the wilderness of Sinai. BSB BSB: In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
2 ARST After they left Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai, and they set up their tents at the base of the mountain. BSB BSB: After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
3 ARST Moses climbed up{ the mountain to talk} with God. Yahweh called to him from{ the top} of the mountain and said,“This is what I want you to say to the Israelite people, the descendants of Jacob, BSB BSB: Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel:
4 ARST ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You have seen what I did for you and how I brought you here to me as if I had carried you on top of eagles’ wings. BSB BSB: ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
5 ARST Therefore, if you very carefully do what I tell you to do and obey all that I require in what we agreed by swearing to, you will be my own people. You will be my personal property from among all of the nations. Although all the earth is mine, BSB BSB: Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
6 ARST you will be my priestly kingdom and a nation dedicated to me.’ That is what you must tell the Israelites.” BSB BSB: And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 ARST So Moses went down the mountain and called the elders of the people. He told them everything that Yahweh had told him to tell them. BSB BSB: So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.
8 ARST The people all said,“We will do everything that Yahweh has told us to do.” Then Moses climbed back up the mountain and reported to Yahweh what the people had said. BSB BSB: And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.
9 ARST Then Yahweh said to Moses“Listen carefully. I will come to you from inside a thick cloud. When I am speaking to you, the people will hear it, and they will always believe that you are their leader.” Then Moses told Yahweh what the people said. BSB BSB: The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.
10 ARST Then Yahweh said to Moses,“Go back down to the people again.{ Tell them to get ready for my coming.} They must purify themselves today and tomorrow. They must also wash their clothes BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
11 ARST so they will be ready on the third day. On that day I will come down to Mount Sinai to where all the people can see me. BSB BSB: and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12 ARST You must make a boundary around the base of the mountain to protect the people. Tell them,‘Be sure that you do not climb the mountain or even touch it. You must kill anyone who touches the base of the mountain. BSB BSB: And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
13 ARST Do not let anyone touch any person or any animal that touches the mountain. Therefore, you must kill any person or animal that touches the mountain by throwing stones at it or shooting it with arrows.’ But when you hear a long, loud trumpet sound, the people can come close to the base of the mountain.” BSB BSB: No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
14 ARST So Moses went down the mountain again and told the people to purify{ themselves and to get ready for Yahweh’ s coming. They did what Moses told them to do,} and they also washed their clothes. BSB BSB: When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
15 ARST Then Moses said to the people,“Be ready on the third day, and you men must not have sexual relations with any women{ until after then}.” BSB BSB: “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
16 ARST On the third day, during the morning, there was thunder, lightning, a very dark cloud on the mountain, and a very loud horn sound. The people in the camp shook because they were very afraid. BSB BSB: On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
17 ARST Then Moses led the people outside the camp to meet with God. They stood around the base of the mountain. BSB BSB: Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 ARST Then Yahweh descended on Mount Sinai, surrounded by fire. That caused the entire mountain to smoke. The smoke rose up like the smoke from the chimney of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. BSB BSB: Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
19 ARST As the sound of the horn continued to become louder, Moses spoke to God, and God answered him in a thunderous voice. BSB BSB: And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
20 ARST Then Yahweh came down again onto the top of Mount Sinai, and he summoned Moses to come up to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up. BSB BSB: The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,
21 ARST Yahweh said to Moses,“Go down again and warn the people not to cross the boundary in order to look at me. If they do that, many of them will die. BSB BSB: and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.
22 ARST Also, the priests who come near me must purify themselves. If they do not do that, I will punish them.” BSB BSB: Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
23 ARST Then Moses said to Yahweh,“The people will not climb the mountain because you commanded them, saying,‘Set a boundary around the mountain, to consecrate it.’” BSB BSB: But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
24 ARST Yahweh said to Moses,“Go down the mountain and bring Aaron back up with you. But do not allow the priests or other people to cross the boundary to come up to me. If they cross it, I will punish them.” BSB BSB: And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”
25 ARST So Moses went down the mountain again and told the people what Yahweh had said. BSB BSB: So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.