Exo 19.1-25 tells us about the arrival of Israel to Mount Sinai, which is east of the Gulf of Aqaba, south of Edom, and in Midian; God reminds Israel of his great power and care, and reveals his plan for them; the people agree to obey the covenant; God commands that they respect his rules of kedusha, and ritual purity; God’s presence on Mount Sinai and the ascent of Moses up on the mountain to meet with God; Moses is sent back down to warn the people and the priests not to come near or make a breach in the barrier.
v 1…In the third month (of Sivan on the new religious calendar established in Exo 12) after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day (third month, third day), they came into the wilderness of Sinai (had its name from the mountain there; this may be Jabal-Al-Lawz or the “almond mountain”).
v 2…When they set out from Rephidim (after Amalek) they came to the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped (singular in Hebrew; as one-Acts 2.1) in front of the mountain.
v 3…And Moses went up to God (a second time), and the Lord called to him from the mountain (from the cloud of his presence on the mountain), saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the sons of Israel (a parallelism),
v 4…’You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles wings (protection from heaven; through hardships-Rev 12.14) and brought you to myself (here to Sinai).
v 5…Now then, if You will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant (which is about to be made with them), then you shall be my own possession (a peculiar treasure and highly valued; a light to the Gentiles to show them who the creator God really is and what he wants) among the peoples, for all the earth is mine (and a possession also, but ISrael will be different).
v 6…And you shall be a kingdom of priests (“kohanim” and can mean chief ministers as in 2 Sam 8.18; 1 Pet 2.5) and a holy nation (set apart with a kedusha from the other nations as the bechor; they will have a commission to lead the world to an understanding of the mission of the redemption through the Messiah).’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
v 7…So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him.
v 8…And all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord (the third time up the mount).
v 9…And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold (take note), I shall come to you in a thick cloud (not a pillar) in order that the people may hear when I speak with you (as ear-witnesses), and may also believe in you forever (since they will hear it with their own ears). Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.
v 10…The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them (an outward washing) today (Sivan 4) and tomorrow (Sivan 5), and let them wash their garments;
v 11…and let them be ready for the third day (Sivan 6), for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people (in a thick cloud and fire; 45 days to Sinai, one day on the mount, one day returning with the people’s answer, three days preparation equals fifty days from Passover to the giving of the Torah on Sivan 6).
v 12…And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death (the mountain had a kedusha).
v 13…No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast of man shall not live. When the ram’s horn (yovel) sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.
v 14…So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people (with a kedusha), and they washed their garments.
v 15…And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman (your wives because of the greater sanctity of the day).”
v 16…So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder (Hebrew “kolot” or “voices”) and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound (being blown by ten thousands of angels who descended with Yehovah-Deut 33.1-3), so that the people that were in the camp trembled (at the sound of it because it was so loud).
v 17…And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God (as the friend of the bridegroom; Moses signifies the Torah and is the witness assigned to the bride; “Elijah” signifying the Prophets in John the Immerser is assigned to the groom-John 3.26; Mal 3.1-3; the Law and the Prophets teach about Yeshua); and the people stood at the foot (Hebrew “tachat” meaning “under”) the mountain (the Torah being given is the betrothal contract between the Lord and his bride-Jer 2.2).
v 18…Now when Mount Sinai was all smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke descended like the smoke of a furnace (Gen 15.17) and the whole mountain shook violently (the festival of Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah on Sinai and the manifestations of “voices or tongues, fire, smoke and shaking violently are seen in Acts 2).
v 19…When the sound of the trumpet (this is seen in Jewish eschatology as the “first trump” and the betrothal, and the “last trump” is seen as Rosh Ha Shannah and the full marriage) grew louder and louder (not a natural act, usually trumpets get weaker when blown too long), Moses spoke, and God answered him in the thunder (Hebrew “b’kol” or in a voice).
v 20…And the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up (fourth time).
v 21…Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze and many of them perish.
v 22…And also let the priests (probably the first born or elders) who come near to the Lord (to the barrier) consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out (make a breach in them because of the Shekinah; if they break through, then he will break through).
v 23…And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it. ‘ “
v 24…Then the Lord said to him, “Go down and come up, you and Aaron (as the prophet of Moses) with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break forth upon them (a repeated warning because God knows the heart of man).
v 25…So Moses went down to the people and told them (to keep their distance and do not cross the line)
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