The Ten Commandments, Remarks on Exodus 19 and 20

Three months after the Israelites left Egypt, Israel camped in the desert in front of the mountain. The LORD called Moses from the mountain and told him that Moses had seen what the LORD did to Egypt, and said if you obey the LORD fully and keep his covenant, you will be his treasured possession. He told Moses to tell this to the Israelites.

Moses returned, told the elders the words the LORD decreed him to speak. The people replied, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” Moses then told the Lord the people’s response. 

The LORD told Moses he will come to him in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear him speaking with Moses.

The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

The mountain was sacred because of G-d’s presence there. Mount Sinai was also known as Mt Horeb, where G-d spoke to Moses from within the burning bush. This is why the people were consecrated, they were being set apart for G-d’s use. Priests were purified before they could stand before G-d. The boundaries around the mountain symbolized separation between G-d and family.

The LORD said to let the people know to be careful to not approach the mountain or touch it. Whoever touches the mountain will be put to death. Only after they hear the shofar sounding a long blast may they approach the mountain.

Moses then went down the mountain to the people, consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. He then said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day.”

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Moses then led the people out of the camp to meet with G-d, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. The Levite priests, who approach the LORD consecrated themselves. Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.”

The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you.”

And God spoke all these words:

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. The Lord the spoke the Ten Commandments, which are paraphrased here.

1.     I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have any other gods besides me.

2.     You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.

3.     Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

4.     Honor the father and mother.

5.     You shall not kill.

6.     You shall not commit adultery.

7.     You shall not steal.

8.     You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9.     You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

10.  You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The people remained at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. It was then that the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.”