¹Two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the desert of Sinai. ²Israel had moved from Rephidim and had come into the desert of Sinai. They had set up camp there in front of the mountain.

³Then Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, “This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites, ⁴‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my mountain. ⁵If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise,^athen out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. ⁶You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words you must speak to the Israelites.”

⁷So Moses went down and called for the leaders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that the Lord had commanded him. ⁸All the people answered together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

⁹The Lord said to Moses, “I am coming to you in a storm cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always believe you.” Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

¹⁰So the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people, and tell them they have two days to get ready. They must set themselves apart as holy. Have them wash their clothes ¹¹and be ready by the day after tomorrow. On that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.

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Footnotes

a 19:5 Or “terms of my covenant.”