Israel’s Sanctification
Background and printed text: Exodus 19
Exodus 19:1 In the third month to the exit of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, they came from the Thorny Desert in this day. 2And they journeyed from Corpses. And they came-to the Desert of My-Thorns [Sinai Desert]. And they camped in the desert. And Israel camped there in-front-of the mountain.
3And Draw [Moshe] ascended unto the Elohim. And Yehovah called unto him from the mountain to say, “So shalt thou say to the House of He-Will-Heel [Jacob], and thou hast told to the children of Israel, 4 ‘Ye—ye saw what I did to Egypt! And I carried you upon wings of eagles. And I brought you unto me.
5 “‘And now, if, hearkening, ye will hearken into my voice, and ye shall guard My Covenant! And ye shall be segregated to me from all the peoples. For all the Land is to me! 6And ye, ye shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy race to me!’ These are the speeches that thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”
7And Draw [Moshe] came. And he called to the elders of the people. And he put to their faces all these speeches that Yehovah commanded him. 8And they answered─all the people─together. And they said, “We will do all that Yehovah spoke!”
And Draw [Moshe] returned the speeches of the people unto Yehovah.
9And Yehovah said unto Draw [Moshe], “Behold I am coming unto thee in the darkness of the cloud for-the-sake-that the people will hearken via my speech with thee. And they will also believe via thee to Hider!”
And Draw [Moshe] told the speeches of the people unto Yehovah.
10And Yehovah said unto Draw [Moshe], “Go unto the people. And sanctify them today and tomorrow. And they shall launder their garments. 11And they shall be straight-forward-ones to the third day. For Yehovah will descend to the eyes of all the people upon Thorny Mountain in the third day. 12And thou shalt border the people around to say, ‘Guard-ye to yourselves to ascend into the mountain and to touch into his edge! Each toucher into the mountain: dying, shall die! 13Thou shalt not touch a hand into him! For stoning, he shall be stoned, or shooting, he shall be shot! If beast, if a man: he shall not live! They shall ascend into the mountain when extending the flow!’”
14And Draw [Moshe] descended unto the people from the mountain. And he sanctified the people. And they laundered their garments. 15And he said unto the people, “Be-ye straight-forward-ones for three days. Touch-ye-not unto a woman.”
16And he was in the third day when being the morning. And he was voices and lightnings and a heavy cloud upon the mountain, and the very strong voice of a shofar! And all the people that is in the camp quaked! 17And Draw [Moshe] exits from the camp with the people to meet the Elohim. And they positioned themselves in the undermost-part-of the mountain. 18And Mount-of-my-Thorns [Mount Sinai] is smoke─all of him—because Yehovah descended upon him in fire. And His smoke ascended as the smoke of the furnace. And all the mountain much quaked! 19And the voice of the Shofar was walking and very strong.
Draw [Moshe] will speak and the Elohim will answer him via the voice!
20And Yehovah descended upon Mount-of-my-Thorns [Mount Sinai] unto the head of the mountain. And Yehovah called to Draw [Moshe] unto the head of the mountain. And Draw [Moshe] ascended. 21And Yehovah said unto Draw [Moshe], “Descend! Witness into the people lest they will fragment unto Yehovah to see! And many shall fall from him! 22And also the priests who are approaching unto Yehovah shall sanctify themselves lest Yehovah will blow-up into them!”
23And Draw [Moshe] said unto Yehovah, “The people will not be able to ascend unto the Mount-of-my-Thorns [Mount Sinai], because Thou, Thou testified into us to say, ‘Border the Mountain and sanctify him!’” 24And Yehovah said unto him, “Go! Descend! And ascend thou, and Aharon with thee. And the priests and the people shall not fragment to ascend unto Yehovah lest He will blow-up into them!”
25And Moshe descended unto the people.
I. The Third Month’s Journey (verses 1-2)
The Israelis had now been away from Egypt for more than two months. They had most recently been in Thorny Desert. On this very day, they traveled from Thorny Desert and from Corpses, and they came to the Desert of My-Thorns—that is, to the Sinai Desert. They camped there in the desert, and in front of the mountain (Mount Sinai).
Questions
1. Why did Yehovah walk the Israelis into desert lands instead of lands where there were many plants and animals?
2. Why did Yehovah wait until the third month to do what He is about to do, rather than immediately doing these things?
3. What kind of a desert would be described as Thorny Desert?
4. What kind of a land would be called Corpses?
5. Why would a place be called the Desert of My Thorns?
6. The text states, “they camped in the desert.” Where else would they have camped?
7. Why did they camp in front of a mountain?
II. Moshe Ascends unto the Elohim (verses 3-4)
Moshe ascended unto the Elohim (the Gods). Yehovah called unto him from the mountain in order to say, “So shalt thou say to the House of Jacob, and thou hast told to the children of Israel…” Yehovah will be communicating many things to Moshe so that he will tell them to the Israelis.
Yehovah continued, “Ye—ye saw what I did to Egypt!” They had, of course. Yehovah then said, “And I carried you upon wings of eagles.” (See the questions regarding this.) He also said, “And I brought you unto me.”
Questions
1. How did Moshe know to ascend (go up) unto the Elohim?
2. Was ascending the mountain to come to the Elohim (the Gods) scary for Moshe?
3. What did Moshe see while in the mountain?
4. What does the Elohim mean, and why does it mean this?
5. What is a house in, “So shalt thou say to the House of Jacob”?
6. Why did the Elohim make a distinction between the House of Jacob and the children of Israel?
7. What are the children of Israel?
8. The Elohim said, “so shalt thou say…” He also said, “…and thou hast told…” Why is He wording these things in these ways?
9. The Elohim said, “Ye—ye saw what I did to Egypt!” To what event is He referring?
10. The Elohim said, “And I carried you upon wings of eagles.” When did He do this?
11. When did the Elohim bring the children of Israel unto Him?
III. Promises, Promises! (verses 5-6)
Yehovah continued, “And now, if, hearkening, ye will hearken into my voice, and ye shall guard My Covenant!” Yehovah told the Israelis what will happen to them: “And ye shall be segregated to me from all the peoples.” He then claimed ownership of all the land: “For all the Land is to me!” Yehovah assigned Moshe to speak these speeches unto the children of Israel.
Questions
1. What does hearken mean?
2. Why did the Elohim say if?
3. What will be the result when the children of Israel will hearken into the Elohim’s voice?
4. What does guard mean?
5. Why guard a Covenant? Is someone trying to steal it?
6. What does segregated mean?
7. In what ways will the Israelis be segregated from all peoples?
8. Why did the Elohim say, “ye shall be segregated to me”?
9. Why doesn’t Yehovah desire all the peoples of the world to be segregated to Him?
10. Doesn’t this mean that the Israelis are special above all the other peoples of the world?
11. What does all the land being to the Elohim have to do with the segregation of the Israelis? What land is this?
12. What is a priest?
13. What is a kingdom of priests?
14. What does holy mean?
15. What is a holy race?
16. What race is this, and who owns this race?
17. What is the position of the many who joined themselves to Israel, but are not part of the race of Israel, having come from many other races?
18. The Elohim said, “These are the speeches that thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” It appears to be just one speech. Why is it considered speeches?
19. Did the Israelis understand these speeches when Moshe told them?
IV. Moshe Presents the Speeches (verses 7-8)
Moshe came to the Israeli camp. He then called to the elders of the people. He then put all these speeches that Yehovah commanded him directly to the faces of these elders.
All the people answered together. They said, “We will do all that Yehovah spoke!”
Questions
1. Why did Moshe call the elders of the people?
2. Why does the text state, “he put to their faces all these speeches that Yehovah commanded him”?
3. If Moshe was speaking only to the elders, how could all the people together answer Moshe?
4. Did the Israelis do all that Yehovah spoke right after this event?
V. Moshe Returns Speeches to Yehovah (verse 8)
Moshe then returned the speeches of the people of Israel to Yehovah (as if Yehovah hadn’t heard).
Questions
1. Why did Moshe return the speeches of the people unto Yehovah? Didn’t Yehovah hear what they said?
VI. The Darkness of the Cloud (verse 9)
Yehovah now said unto Moshe, “Behold I am coming unto thee in the darkness of the cloud for-the-sake-that the people will hearken via my speech with thee. And they will also believe into thee to Hider!”
Questions
1. Why did Yehovah come in the darkness of a cloud, according to this text?
2. Yehovah then added, “And they will also believe via thee to Hider!” When is Hider, and will they believe Moshe to Hider in Moshe’s day?
VII. Moshe Again Tells Yehovah the Speeches (verse 9)
Moshe now had more Israeli speeches to tell Yehovah.
Questions
1. Why does the text again state that Moshe told the speeches of the people unto Yehovah?
VIII. Sanctification and the Dangerous Descent (verses 10-13)
Yehovah said unto Moshe, “Go unto the people. And sanctify them today and tomorrow.” He then told them what to do: “And they shall launder their garments.”
He then told Moshe how the Israelis must behave: “And they shall be straight-forward-ones to the third day.” Yehovah gave the reason: “For Yehovah will descend to the eyes of all the people upon Thorny Mountain in the third day.”
Yehovah now warned of great danger by telling Moshe of the restrictions: “And thou shalt border the people around to say, ‘Guard-ye to yourselves to ascend into the mountain and to touch into his edge!’” (He was telling them to not ascend into the mountain, and even to not touch into the mountain’s edge!) Yehovah gave the reason why: “Each toucher into the mountain: dying, shall die!” Yehovah made the warning very specific: “Thou shalt not touch a hand into him!” If a person were to throw a stone to or at the mountain, “stoning, he shall be stoned!” If a person were to shoot an arrow toward the mountain, “shooting, he shall be shot!” Even if an animal goes to the mountain, or if a man tries to get up the mountain, “If beast, if a man: he shall not live!” This was a very strong warning!
Yehovah finished this speech by telling when the Israelis will ascend into the mountain: “when extending the flow!”
Questions
1. What does sanctify mean?
2. Why did Moshe need to sanctify the people if Yehovah already owned them?
3. Why did Moshe need to do this “today and tomorrow”?
4. What process was involved in sanctification?
5. Why did they need to launder their garments?
6. What does straight forward ones mean?
7. Why, again, will Yehovah descend upon Mount Sinai in the third day?
8. What does “border the people around” mean?
9. What does “Guard-ye to yourselves to ascend into the mountain” mean?
10. Why was Yehovah so strongly against any Israeli ascending into the mountain and even touching the very edge of the mountain?
11. According to verse 13, what will happen to an Israeli who throws or slings a stone at Mount Sinai at this time?
12. What will happen to an Israeli who shoots an arrow at the mountain at this time, and why?
13. What will happen if a bull goes too close to Mount Sinai, and crosses onto the edge of the mountain?
14. Yehovah told Moshe to say, “They shall ascend into the mountain when extending the flow.” What does this mean?
IX. Sanctification and Women (verses 14-15)
Moshe descended from the mountain to come unto the people. He then sanctified the people. Afterward, they laundered their garments.
Moshe said unto the people, “Be-ye straight-forward-ones for three days. Touch-ye-not unto a woman.” (See the questions.)
Questions
1. What water did they use to launder their garments?
2. Why did they have to launder their garments? What does this picture?
3. Why did Yehovah command the Israelis to not touch unto a woman? Were women inferior, unclean and to be avoided?
4. Was there a problem if an Israeli man or woman was already unclean by something beyond what he or she could avoid?
X. Sound, Earthquake, Smoke and Terror (verses 16-19)
The morning of the third day after Moshe’s sanctification of the Israelis, the entire camp heard voices, saw lightnings, saw a heavy could upon the mountain, and heard the very strong voice of a shofar! Everyone in the camp began to shake from the terror of these things.
Moshe and the Israelis exited the camp to meet the Elohim (Gods). They positioned themselves right under the mountain (without going near enough to touch it).
All of Mount Sinai is smoke because Yehovah descended upon him in fire. His smoke ascended as the smoke of the furnace! All the mountain greatly shook with an earthquake. The voice of the shofar was walking—traveling along the land—and was very strong!
Questions
1. Who was in the third day (verse 16)?
2. What four things did the Israelis witness on this morning of the third day?
3. What is a shofar?
4. Why did all the people in the camp quake?
5. If the people [singular] was so afraid, why did this group exit with Moshe to meet the Elohim?
6. Where did they go?
7. Did Mount Sinai become smoke?
8. Why did Yehovah’s fire cause so much smoke?
9. How does the smoke of a furnace ascend?
10. What fifth thing did the Israelis also experience at the same time?
11. The text says, “the voice of the Shofar was walking.” What does this mean?
XI. Moshe and the Elohim Communicate (verse 19)
Moshe will speak to the Elohim, and He will answer Moshe via the voice!
Questions
1. What did Moshe say to the Elohim?
2. How could Moshe’s voice be heard with the much greater sounds occurring?
3. What did the Elohim answer?
4. Did the Israelis hear the answer?
XII. Yehovah Descends; Danger is to the Israelis (verses 20-22)
Yehovah descended upon Mount Sinai’s head. Yehovah then called to Moshe, summoning him unto the head of the mountain. Moshe ascended.
Yehovah said unto Moshe, “Descend! Witness into the people lest they will fragment unto Yehovah to see! And many shall fall from him!”
Yehovah also warned, “And also the priests who are approaching unto Yehovah shall sanctify themselves lest Yehovah will blow-up into them!”
Questions
1. Hadn’t Yehovah already descended (verse 18)?
2. Why did Yehovah call to Moshe to come unto the head (top) of the mountain?
3. It seems that Yehovah was about to tell Moshe something when Yehovah suddenly commanded Moshe, “Descend! Witness into the people lest they will fragment unto Yehovah to see! And many shall fall from him!” If this is true, what was happening?
4. Were the priests any more ready than the Israelis?
5. What does blow up into them mean?
6. What did the priests have to do to sanctify themselves?
XIII. Confusion Over Ascending or Not (verses 23-24)
Moshe said unto Yehovah, “The people will not be able to ascend unto the Mount-of-my-Thorns [Mount Sinai], because Thou, Thou testified into us to say, ‘Border the Mountain and sanctify him!’”
Yehovah replied, “Go! Descend!” Moshe had to deliver Yehovah’s communications to the Israelis. Yehovah gave more commands: “And ascend thou, and Aharon with thee.”
As for the rest, Yehovah said, “And the priests and the people shall not fragment to ascend unto Yehovah lest He will blow-up into them!”
Questions
1. Why did Moshe say unto Yehovah, “The people will not be able to ascend unto the Mount Sinai because Thou, Thou testified into us to say, ‘Border the Mountain and sanctify him’”? Had Yehovah said that the people should ascend, or had He said that they must not ascend?
2. Aren’t the two statements about ascending or not ascending the mountain in conflict with each other?
3. Did Yehovah explain to Moshe what had confused Moshe? Why, or why not?
4. Why did Yehovah desire that Aharon ascend with Moshe?
XIV. Moshe Descended the Mountain (verse 25)
Moshe then went down the mountain to return to the Israelis. He had life-saving information.
Questions
1. What was the purpose for Moshe descending Mount Sinai at this point?
2. How did the Israelis respond to Moshe’s arrival?