Open Bible Data Home  About  News  OET Key

OETOET-RVOET-LVULTUSTBSBBLBAICNTOEBWEBBEWMBBNETLSVFBVTCNTT4TLEBBBEMoffJPSWymthASVDRAYLTDrbyRVWbstrKJB-1769KJB-1611BshpsGnvaCvdlTNTWyclSR-GNTUHBBrLXXBrTrRelatedTopicsParallelInterlinearReferenceDictionarySearch

OETBy DocumentBy Section By Chapter Details

OET GENEXOLEVNUMDEUJOBJOSJDGRUTH1SA2SAPSAAMOSHOS1KI2KI1CH2CHPROECCSNGJOELMICISAZEPHABJERLAMYNANAHOBADANEZEEZRAESTNEHHAGZECMALYHNMARKMATLUKEACTsYACGAL1TH2TH1COR2CORROMCOLPHMEPHPHP1TIMTIT1PET2PET2TIMHEBYUD1YHN2YHN3YHNREV

EXOIntroC1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16C17C18C19C20C21C22C23C24C25C26C27C28C29C30C31C32C33C34C35C36C37C38C39C40

Open English Translation EXO Chapter 19

EXO 19 ©

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

19:1 Camping by Mt. Sinai

19The Israelis entered the Sinai wilderness in the third month after exiting Egypt. 2After they had departed from Refidim, they had entered the Sinai wilderness and camped there at the base of the mountain. 3Yahweh called Mosheh from the mountain, so he climbed up and God gave him this message and asked him to pass it on to Yacob’s descendants, the Israelis:

4“You yourselves saw what I did to the Egyptians—how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you all here to myself. 5And now, if you all carefully listen to my words and keep my agreement, then your nation will be my possession, separate from all the others, because all the earth is mine,[ref] 6So you all will be my kingdom of priests and a nation dedicated to me.” (That’s the message to pass on to the Israelis.)[ref] 7So Mosheh descended again and summoned the Israeli elders, then he passed on that message just as Yahweh had commanded him, 8and all the people responded together, agreeing, “We’ll do everything that Yahweh has said.” Then Mosheh took the people’s response back to Yahweh 9and Yahweh told him, “Look, I’ll come to you in a thick cloud so that the people will be able to hear when I speak with you so they’ll also continue to trust you.”

Then Mosheh told Yahweh the people’s words 10and Yahweh responded, “Go down to the people and purify them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11and be prepared for the third day, because on the third day I will come down to Mt. Sinai while all the people watch. 12Set boundaries for the people all around, and tell them, ‘Don’t climb on the mountain or touch its edge, because anyone who does will definitely be executed.[ref] 13Anyone who touches the mountain mustn’t be touched by anyone else—they must be executed by throwing rocks at them or shooting them with a bow. No person or animal who touches the mountain can stay alive.’ Only after a long trumpet blast should they start to climb the mountain.” 14So Mosheh went down the mountain to the people. He purified them and they all washed their clothes, 15and he told them, “Abstain from sexual relations, and be ready by the third day.”

16So on the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning and a thick cloud on the mountain, and an extremely loud horn blast, and all the people in the camp were trembling.[ref] 17Then Mosheh led the people out of the camp to go and meet God, and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain. 18Yahweh descended onto Mount Sinai surrounded by fire and the entire mountain smoked. Its smoke went up like the smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19Then it happened after the sound of the horn got extremely loud, that Mosheh was speaking and God was answering him in a voice. 20Yahweh had descended onto the top of Mt. Sinai, and he called Mosheh up to the top of the mountain, so Mosheh ascended. 21But Yahweh told him, “Go back down and warn the people in case they force their way through to look at me and many of them perish. 22Also, the priests who come nearer to me, they must be very careful to purify themselves in case I suddenly punish them.” 23But Mosheh questioned Yahweh, “The people aren’t able to come up on Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us,[ref] ‘Set boundaries all around the mountain to keep it sacred.’ ” 24“Go back down,” Yahweh responded, “and bring Aharon back up with you. However, the priests and the people must not cross the boundary to come up to me, in case I suddenly punish them.” 25So Mosheh went down and spoke to the people.


19in/on/at/with_month the_third after_gone_out of_the_people of_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) of_land of_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) in_the_day the_this they_came the_wilderness of_Şīnay.
2And_set_out from_Rəfīdīm and_they_came the_wilderness of_Şīnay and_camped in/on/at/with_wilderness and_camped there Yisrāʼēl/(Israel) before the_mountain.
3And_Mosheh he_went_up to the_ʼElohīm and_he/it_called to_him/it YHWH from the_mountain to_say thus you_will_say to_house of_Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) and_tell to_people of_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).
4You_all you_all_have_seen [that]_which I_did to_Miʦrayimians and_bore DOM_you_all on wings of_eagles and_brought DOM_you_all to_myself.
5And_now if carefully_(listen) you_all_will_listen in/on/at/with_voice_my and_keep DOM covenant_my and_you_all_will_be to_me a_possession from_all the_peoples if/because to_me all the_earth/land.
6And_you_all you_all_will_be to_me a_kingdom of_priests and_nation holy these the_words which you_will_speak to the_people of_Yisrāʼēl/(Israel).
7And_came Mosheh and_he/it_called to_elders the_people and_he/it_assigned before_face/front_them DOM all the_words the_these which commanded_him YHWH.
8And_answered all the_people together and_they_said all that he_has_spoken YHWH we_will_do and_brought_back Mosheh DOM the_words the_people to YHWH.
9And_he/it_said YHWH to Mosheh here I [am]_about_to_come to_you in/on/at/with_dense the_cloud in_account_of it_may_hear the_people in/on/at/with_speak_I with_you and_also in/on/at/with_you they_will_trust for_always and_told Mosheh DOM the_words the_people to YHWH.
10And_he/it_said YHWH to Mosheh go to the_people and_consecrate_them the_day and_tomorrow and_wash clothes_their.
11And_they_will_be prepared for_the_day the_third if/because in_the_day the_third he_will_come_down YHWH in_sight of_all the_people on the_mountain of_Şīnay.
12And_set_limits DOM the_people all_around to_say take_heed to/for_you_all to_go_up in/on/at/with_mountain and_touch in/on/at/with_edge_it every the_touches in/on/at/with_mountain surely_(die) he_will_be_put_to_death.
13Not it_will_touch in/on/over_him/it a_hand if/because really_(stone) he_will_be_stoned_to_death or really_(shot) he_will_be_shot whether an_animal or a_human not it_will_live in/on/at/with_sounds_a_long_blast the_ram’s_horn they they_will_go_up in/on/at/with_mountain.
14And_he/it_descended Mosheh from the_mountain to the_people and_he/it_consecrated DOM the_people and_washed clothes_their.
15And_he/it_said to the_people be prepared for_third days do_not draw_near to a_woman.
16And_he/it_was in/on/at/with_day the_third in/on/at/with_was the_morning and_he/it_was thunder_claps and_lightning and_cloud heavy on the_mountain and_sound of_a_ram’s_horn strong very and_trembled all the_people which in/on/at/with_camp.
17And_brought_out Mosheh DOM the_people to_meet the_ʼElohīm from the_camp and_stood in/on/at/with_foot the_mountain.
18And_mount of_Şīnay it_was_smoking all_him from_face/in_front_of that he_had_come_down on/upon/above_him/it YHWH in/on/at/with_fire and_he/it_ascended smoke_its like_smoke the_furnace and_trembled all the_mountain exceedingly.
19And_he/it_was the_sound the_trumpet going and_louder_and_louder very Mosheh he_spoke and_the_god answered_him in/on/at/with_thunder.
20And_he/it_descended YHWH on the_mountain of_Şīnay to the_top the_mountain and_he/it_called YHWH to_Mosheh to the_top the_mountain and_he/it_ascended Mosheh.
21And_he/it_said YHWH to Mosheh go_down warn in/on/at/with_people lest they_should_break_through to YHWH to_see and_perish from_him/it many.
22And_also the_priests the_come_near to YHWH they_will_make_themselves_holy lest he_should_break_out (is)_in_them YHWH.
23And_he/it_said Mosheh to YHWH not it_is_able the_people to_come_up to the_mountain of_Şīnay if/because you you_warned in/on/at/with_us to_say set_bounds_for DOM the_mountain and_consecrate_it.
24And_he/it_said to_him/it YHWH go go_down and_come_up you and_ʼAhₐron with_you and_the_priests and_the_people not let_them_break_through to_come_up to YHWH lest he_should_break_out in/on/at/with_them.
25And_he/it_descended Mosheh to the_people and_he/it_said to_them.

BMMBibleMapper.com Maps:

Map

Map

The Route of the Exodus

Exodus 13-19; Numbers 33

Like several other events recorded in Scripture, the Bible’s account of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai includes an abundance of geographical references, yet it remains one of the most hotly debated topics among scholars, and numerous theories have been offered. The vast majority of geographical references provided in the story are disputed, including the place where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, the location of Mount Sinai (see Proposed Locations for Mount Sinai map), and the various stops along the Israelites’ journey. A few locations have been established with some degree of scholarly consensus, but even these are not without opposing viewpoints. Amidst this incredible diversity of opinion, however, a single verse provides one of the most helpful clues for weighing the merits of one viewpoint over another: “By the way of Mount Seir it takes eleven days to reach Kadesh-barnea from Horeb” (Deuteronomy 1:2). For those who assume the Bible’s account to be trustworthy, this verse appears to require the following for any theory to be considered viable: 1) Kadesh-barnea and Mount Sinai must have been located at a distance from each other that could reasonably have been expected to take eleven days for an entire nation of people with small children, flocks, equipment, and perhaps even elderly members to travel on foot; and 2) the pace established by this distance over eleven days should most likely be considered the typical pace for the Israelites as they traveled from place to place along the other parts of the journey. This two-pronged test clearly strains many of the theories put forth to this point, especially when one factors in the time references given for the start of the journey (Exodus 12:6; Numbers 33:3), the middle of the journey (Exodus 16:1; Numbers 33:8), and the end of the journey (Exodus 19:1). In short, the journey from Rameses to the Wilderness of Sin took 31 days, since it included the 15th day of the second month, and the rest of the journey took another 16 days, assuming they arrived at Mount Sinai on the 15th day (not the first day, etc.) of the third month. Along with these criteria, a theory’s overall congruence with other established geographical and archeological data should bolster its credibility over other proposals. Another consideration is the extreme similarity between the events at Rephidim (Exodus 17) and the events at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 20:1-13; 27:12-14; Deuteronomy 32:51; Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28), raising the question of whether Rephidim (meaning “resting places”) is in fact Kadesh-barnea. With these things in mind, the map below proposes a route for the exodus that meets virtually all of these criteria. A careful analysis and explanation of all the elements of the map is far beyond the scope of this article, but a few key points should be noted. The term Red Sea, in addition to referring to what we now regard it, must have also applied to the interconnected lakes and marshlands that lay along what is now the Suez Canal. Also, the portion of the journey that passed through the wilderness for three days without water (Exodus 15:22; Numbers 33:8) may have been comprised of a partial first day, a full second day, and a partial third day, much like Jesus’ time in the tomb is reckoned as three days in Matthew 12:40. Most notably, Mount Sinai is placed on this map at Gebel Khashm et-Tarif, which is appropriately located near, but not in, Midian (Exodus 3:1; 18:5; Numbers 10:29-30). It is also located 89 miles from Kadesh-barnea (assuming Kadesh is at Tall al-Quderat), which establishes a reasonable pace of 7.6 miles (12.2 km) per day to travel between them in 11 days. This lines up well with several known sources of water along that route (e.g., `Ain Qedeis [Hazar-addar?], Tamilat Suwelima [Hor-haggiggad?], and the spring at Kuntillet al-Girafi [unknown ancient identification]). This general pace then synchronizes very well with the timetable and distances required by this map for the other parts of the journey. The distance from Rameses to the Wilderness of Sin (where it is located here) could be completed in under 26 days, leaving an acceptable buffer of about 5 days for the parting of the Red Sea and perhaps a slower pace through the Wilderness of Shur/Etham. The entire journey took about 60 days, and the journey from the Wilderness of Sin to Mount Sinai took about 29 days. This leaves an acceptable buffer of time to complete the rest of the journey (about 16 days of travel) with a very adequate two weeks of extra time for Jethro to visit Moses and the Israelites to do battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17-18). It should be noted that this timetable generally assumes (but does not necessarily require) that travel continued on sabbath days, but Scripture does not make clear whether travel was prohibited as work prior to the giving of the law at Mount Sinai.

EXO 19 ©

EXOIntroC1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16C17C18C19C20C21C22C23C24C25C26C27C28C29C30C31C32C33C34C35C36C37C38C39C40