Exodus 19:3-15

PREPARATIONS FOR THE SINAITIC THEOPHANY, Exodus 19:3-15.

Before the divine glory is revealed upon the mount, the people must be admonished and purified. To effect this Moses first goes up into the mountain and receives for Israel the gracious words of Exodus 19:3-6. To these the people cheerfully respond with promise of obedience, and Moses, like a true mediator, returns their answer to Jehovah. Exodus 19:7-8. Again Jehovah speaks to Moses, and gives order for careful preparations and purifying against the third day, when he will reveal himself in the sight of all the people, (9-13,) which order Moses is careful to enforce, (14, 15.) Thus begins the more direct religious discipline of the chosen people in the sacred school at Sinai.