v.1: In the third month after the people of Israel left the land of Egypt, on that day, they came to the midbar of Sinai.

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Philippa Dalton
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1 Exodus Chapter 19 v.1: In the third month after the people of Israel left the land of Egypt, on that day, they came to the midbar of Sinai. v.1: The word midbar (מדבר) is often translated wilderness or desert. It is an area where there is the potential for life, as seeds are in the ground. However, this area needs rainfall or some irrigation in order to flourish, according to its potential. This is in contrast to a desert region, where no plant life can flourish. The word midbar is connected to the idea of raising flocks or herds, and is a place of shepherding. Other Hebrew words refer to a stark desert: aravah (ערבה) and negev (נגב) are two such words. As such, the Sinai at the time of the Exodus was a place where animals could live, and where water sources could be found, though they were not abundant. Thus it was a midbar. v.2: So they traveled from Refidim, and came to the midbar of Sinai; then they pitched camp in the midbar. And Israel made its camp there, opposite the mountain. v.3: Then Moshe went up to God, and Adonai called to him from the mountain, saying: This you will say to the house of Yakov, and will tell it to the people of Israel. v.4: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and that I took you up on eagles wings, and I brought you to Me. v.5: And now, if in hearing you hear in My voice and you guard My covenant then you will be My most treasured royal possession from all the peoples for mine is all the earth. v.5: is very important to see: -כל לי-כי העמים-מכל סגלה לי והייתם בריתי-את ושמרתם בקלי תשמעו שמוע-אם ועתה :הארץ "And now if in hearing you (plural) hear in my voice (also an idiom for action according to instruction) and you (plural) guard (complete action) my covenant then you (plural) will be (complete action) my Segulah (most treasured royal possession) from all the peoples for mine is all the earth."

2 This verse is usually translated conditionally, i.e., if you pay attention and act However, the Hebrew can be more time centered than conditional. In other words, when the people are hearing from within God s Voice and guarding over the covenant, they function fully as they were called to function. v.6: So you will be a kingdom of priests for Me, and a separate nation. These are the matters that you will speak to the people of Israel. v.6: The word kadosh (קדוש) is most often translated as holy. Here we translated it as separate. In Hebrew, holy means to be separated out for God s purposes. v.7: Then Moshe came, and called to the elders of the people. And he put all of these matters before them, that Adonai instructed him. v.7: Matters is hadvarim.(הדברים) It can be translated spoken matters or spoken words, meaning that these matters in which God instructed Moses were spoken to Moses. This is the same word used in describing the Ten Words commonly known as the ten commandments. The word used in this verse that we translated instruction is tsivehu (uvum). This word is about as strong as you can get in Hebrew for telling someone about something. It is instruction with the intent for the one receiving the instruction to teach it and pass it on. v.8: So all the people answered together, and they said: All that God has spoken, we will do. Then Moshe returned the words of the people to Adonai. v.8: returning the words of the people means to repeat the words of the people back to God. v.9: Then God said to Moshe: Look, I will come to you in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people will hear My speaking with you, and also believe in you forever. Then Moshe told the words of the people to God. v.9: Or, will hear Me speaking to you is a possible accurate translation. v.10: And Adonai said to Moshe: Go to the people, separate them today and tomorrow; and they must wash their clothes. 2

3 v.10: separate them is the Hebrew vekidashtem.(וקדשתם) Again, it is illustrating what is meant by holy, as it is the same word. v.11: So that they will be fit on the third day, because on the third day, Adonai will descend in the sight of all the people on Mt. Sinai. v.11: Fit is nakon,(נכון) usually meaning correct or proper. In other words, the people had to be in the proper or correct state of being in order to prepare for the event that is talked about. And that state of being is fit or holy. v.12: So, cordon the area off that is around the people, saying: Guard yourselves (from) climbing up the mountain, or (from) touching its base. Anyone who touches the mountain definitely will die. v. 13: Don t let a hand touch him, because whether it s a man or an animal, he will be stoned or shot and not allowed to live. But at the sounding of the shofar, they can ascend up the mountain. v.13: That is, shot with arrows. The word used for shofar (a ritually used ram s horn) is yovel.(יובל) This word is later used to refer to the 50 th year, the Jubilee Year, which began with the yovel, that is, a ritually sounded blasting from the shofar. See Leviticus 25:8 9. v.14: Then Moshe went down the mountain to the people, and separated the people, and they washed their clothes. v.15: And he said to the people: Get prepared concerning three days time; don t approach a woman. v.16: So it was on the third day when morning came, there were voices, lightning strikes, and heavy clouds on the mountain, with the very loud voice of a shofar. Then all the people in the encampment became terrified. v.17: Then Moshe brought the people out of the encampment to meet God; so they presented themselves at the foot of the mountain. 3

4 v.17: In modern Hebrew, presented themselves is a military word, yityatzvu,(יתיצבו) and has a sense of soldiers reporting to their officers for duty. v.18: So all of Mt. Sinai was smoky, because Adonai had descended upon it in fire, and His smoke rose up like the smoke of a furnace. And the mountain shook a lot. v.18: In modern English, we could say that the mountain shook violently. v.19: The voice of the shofar went forth and was very loud! Moshe spoke, and God answered him in a voice. v.20: And Adonai descended upon Mt. Sinai, onto the peak of the mountain; then Adonai called Moshe to the top of the mountain. So Moshe came up to the mountain top. v.21: So God said to Moshe: Go down, testify to the people that if they force their way to see Adonai, many of them will fall. v.21: By will fall, it is meant that they would die (see vv above). v.22: As well, the priests who present themselves to Adonai must be separated, or God will burst forth upon them. v.22: burst forth upon them is a violent action that results in harm. So, God is stating that He would take action against any priests who are not properly prepared to meet with Him. Separated, once again, means to be holy. v.23: Then Moshe said to Adonai: The people won t be able to go up Mt. Sinai, because you informed us, saying: Cordon off the mountain and separate it. v.23: The word for informed, ha edotah (העדותה) can also be understood to mean you testified to us about it. The sense is that the people had already been instructed concerning how to act. 4

5 v.24: So Adonai said to him: Go, descend; then you and Aaron with you must come up; the priests and the people must not force their way up to Adonai, or I will burst forth upon them. v.25: And Moshe went down to the people, then told them. 5

The Setting. Exodus 19:1-2 (NIV) On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left

The Setting. Exodus 19:1-2 (NIV) On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Exodus 19:1-2 (NIV) On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left The Setting Egypt on that very day they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the