The Covenant at Sinai

Three months after departing Egypt, the Israelites camped in the wilderness before Mount Sinai. God called Moses to the mountain, instructing him to tell the people that if they obeyed his voice and kept his covenant, they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6). Moses returned to the elders and the people, who answered together that they would do all the Lord had spoken. God then commanded the people to consecrate themselves for two days and wash their clothes, for on the third day, he would come down in the sight of all the people (Exodus 19:10-11). Bounds were set around the mountain, and the people were warned not to touch it or go up to it under penalty of death.

On the morning of the third day, thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud appeared on the mountain, accompanied by an exceedingly loud trumpet blast. Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire, and the whole mountain shook greatly (Exodus 19:18). God called Moses to the top of the mountain and warned him again to prevent the people and priests from breaking through to gaze upon the Lord. God specifically instructed Moses to bring Aaron up with him later, though the text does not say exactly when Aaron ascended during the delivery of the initial commandments (Exodus 19:24).

God then spoke all the words of the commandments directly. He identified himself as the Lord who brought them out of Egypt and prohibited the worship of other gods or the creation of carved images. He commanded the observance of the Sabbath and established laws regarding social conduct, including honoring parents and prohibitions against murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and coveting (Exodus 20:1-17). The people, terrified by the noise and the smoking mountain, stood afar off and requested that Moses speak to them instead of God, fearing they would die if God continued to speak directly to them.