Exodus 19:3-25

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• God owns all things, but Israel has the opportunity to be a special possession of his.

• Preparation to meet God.

Details and/or Comments

Being God's Special Possession

• God owns all the earth, but Israel would have the opportunity to be God's special possession.

• The prerequisite would be that they must obey him.

• The people said they would obey; so God said he would come down (in a thick cloud) and personally speak in their hearing.

Preparing to Meet God

• They must set themselves apart as special ("holy").

• They must not get too close, or they will die.

• God comes down in a thick cloud, with terrifying occurrences in the environment (thunder, lightning, trumpet sounds, earthquake).

The Beginning of a New Era

This would be the start of a new era, in which Israel lived under what we now call the Old Covenant. This was a conditional covenant, and it was dependent on the people's willingness to obey God. Regrettably, their entire history would be characterized mostly by disobedience. In the end, God had to judge them (as he forewarned he would do); and he replaced this conditional covenant with an unconditional one (which today we call the New Covenant).

Scripture

Exodus 19:3-25

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Exo 19:3 Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: Exo 19:4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself. Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; Exo 19:6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." Exo 19:7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.	All the earth belongs to God. God and Creation If they would obey him, they would be God's special possession – set apart as special (holy). A Chosen People
Exo 19:8 All the people answered together, and said, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh. Exo 19:9 Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
Exo 19:10 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, Exo 19:11 and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. Exo 19:12 You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, 'Be careful that you don't go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. Exo 19:13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain." Exo 19:14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. Exo 19:15 He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Don't have sexual relations with a woman."	Prepare to meet God – set yourselves apart as special. Holiness He will be on the mountain (in the cloud). Don't approach God or you will die. The Holiness of God This event was of such significance, that it would take thwo days of preparing one's self (and attitude) for it. They were not to get distracted by anything (including sexual activity).
Exo 19:16 It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. Exo 19:17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.	Getting ready to meet God. Note the “environmental” things that could be seen and heard.
Exo 19:18 Mount Sinai, all it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Exo 19:19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. Exo 19:20 Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.	God descends; he talks to Moses. Environmental Displays of God's Power or Presence God's Presence People Meeting with God
Exo 19:21 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish. Exo 19:22 Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break forth on them." Exo 19:23 Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.' " Exo 19:24 Yahweh said to him, "Go down and you shall bring Aaron up with you, but don't let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest he break forth on them." Exo 19:25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.	Instructions for the people. Peering through the smoke to get a direct look at God would cause them to die. Note that God refers to himself in "third person" form - describing himself, he says "Yahweh," instead of "me" or "myself." How God Speaks About Himself

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.