The Command to Leave Sinai

(Deuteronomy 1:1–8)

Then the LORD said to Moses,“Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, [and go] to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said,‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”

4 

When the people heard this bad news, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry 5 For the LORD had said to Moses,“Tell the Israelites‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’ ”

6 

So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb [onward].[fn]

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