136-137 : Mount Sinai
ON the third month after the children of Israel had left Egypt,
they came into the desert of Sinai.
They pitched their tents in the wilderness and camped there before the mountain.
Moses went up to talk to the Lord,
and God called to him from the mountain, saying:"Say to the children of Israel, 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
Now if you will obey my voice and keep your agreement with me, then you shall be a special treasure to me, more than any other people. You shall be a kingdom of priests to me, and a holy nation.' These are the words you shall speak to the children of Israel."
Moses came down and called for the elders of the people,
and laid before them all the words of the Lord.
And the people answered together and said: "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do."
Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
And God was pleased and spoke to Moses, saying:"Lo, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak to you, and believe you forever."Now go to the people and bless
them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready for the third day.
For the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai.
You shall set bounds for the people, and warn them to take care not to go up on the mountain or touch the side of it, for whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Anyone who
does touch it shall be stoned or shot, whether it be beast or man. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain."
Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and he blessed them,
and they washed their clothes.
And he said to them: "Be ready for the third day."
When the third day came, in the morning there was thunder and lightning,
and a thick cloud lay upon the mountain.
Then the voice of a trumpet sounded so loud that all the people in the camp trembled.
And Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God,
and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire.
The smoke rose up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled and shook.
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