The Narrative of the Sinai Revelation and Israel’s Response

5:22 The Lord said these things to your entire assembly at the mountain from the middle of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness with a loud voice, and that was all he said.30 Then he inscribed the words31 on two stone tablets and gave them to me. 5:23 Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me. 5:24 You said, “The Lord our God has shown us his great glory32 and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us33 that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. 5:25 But now, why should we die, because this intense fire will consume us! If we keep hearing the voice of the Lord our God we will die! 5:26 Who is there from the entire human race34 who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived? 5:27 You go near so that you can hear everything the Lord our God is saying and then you can tell us whatever he35 says to you; then we will pay attention and do it.” 5:28 When the Lord heard you speaking to me, he36 said to me, “I have heard what these people have said to you—they have spoken well. 5:29 If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey37 all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever. 5:30 Go and tell them, ‘Return to your tents!’ 5:31 But as for you, remain here with me so I can declare to you all the commandments,38 statutes, and ordinances that you are to teach them, so that they can carry them out in the land I am about to give them.”39 5:32 Be careful, therefore, to do exactly what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn right or left! 5:33 Walk just as he40 has commanded you so that you may live, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long41 in the land you are going to possess.