Exodus 19:9-18

9 The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

10 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes

11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.

13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.

17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain^[a] trembled violently.

Exodus 19:9-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 19

In this chapter we have an account of the coming of the children of Israel to Mount Sinai, Ex 19:1,2, of the covenant made with them there, the proposal on the part of God, and their acceptance of it, Ex 19:3-8, the previous notice God gave three days before of his appearance on the mount, the orders for their preparation to meet him, and the execution of them, Ex 19:9-15, the awful and tremendous appearance of God upon the mount, Ex 19:6-20 and the strict charge given, that neither people nor priests should come near and gaze, only Moses and Aaron with him were to come up, bounds being set to prevent the rest, Ex 19:21-24, and the chapter is closed with observing, that Moses went down from the mount, and delivered to the people what the Lord spoke to and by him, Ex 19:25.

Cross References

• 1. ver 16; Exodus 20:21; Exodus 24:15-16; Exodus 33:9; Exodus 34:5; Deuteronomy 4:11; 2 Samuel 22:10,12; 2 Chronicles 6:1; Psalms 18:11; Psalms 97:2; Psalms 99:7; Matthew 17:5
• 2. Deuteronomy 4:12,36; John 12:29-30
• 3. S Exodus 4:5
• 4. ver 14,22; Leviticus 11:44; Numbers 11:18; 1 Samuel 16:5; Joel 2:16; Hebrews 10:22
• 5. S Genesis 35:2; Revelation 22:14
• 6. ver 16
• 7. S Genesis 11:5
• 8. ver 3,20; S Exodus 3:1; Exodus 24:16; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 34:2,4,29,32; Leviticus 7:38; Leviticus 26:46; Leviticus 27:34; Numbers 3:1; Deuteronomy 10:5; Nehemiah 9:13; Galatians 4:24-25
• 9. ver 23
• 10. Hebrews 12:20*
• 11. Joshua 6:4; 1 Chronicles 15:28; Psalms 81:3; Psalms 98:6
• 12. ver 21; Exodus 34:3
• 13. S Genesis 35:2
• 14. 1 Samuel 21:4; 1 Corinthians 7:5
• 15. 1 Samuel 2:10; Isaiah 29:6
• 16. S ver 9
• 17. Hebrews 12:18-19; Revelation 4:1
• 18. S Genesis 3:10; 1 Samuel 13:7; 1 Samuel 14:15; 1 Samuel 28:5; Psalms 99:1; Hebrews 12:21
• 19. S ver 2; Deuteronomy 4:11
• 20. Exodus 20:18; Psalms 104:32; Isaiah 6:4; Revelation 15:8
• 21. S Exodus 3:2; Exodus 24:17; Leviticus 9:24; Deuteronomy 4:11,24,33,36">Deuteronomy 4:11,24,33,36; Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 5:4; Deuteronomy 9:3; 1 Kings 18:24,38; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1; Psalms 18:8; Hebrews 12:18
• 22. S Genesis 19:28; Revelation 9:2
• 23. Judges 5:5; 2 Samuel 22:8; Psalms 18:7; Psalms 68:8; Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 41:15; Isaiah 64:1; Jeremiah 4:24; Jeremiah 10:10; Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:5; Habakkuk 3:6,10; Haggai 2:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint "and all the people"