Moses Comes Down from Sinai (Exodus 19:7-15)

7 So Moses came [down from the mountain/ his conversational pattern with God going up to speak and down to report to the people] and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together [suggesting that the elders reported what was said to them] and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” [God was not approachable by just anyone. He was the greatest and most dangerous force the people had even known. He would only hear their response from his officially appointed spokesman.] And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” [While the people could only see God symbolically, they would hear his voice so that no one could question that God was speaking to Moses. Compare this to how Mohammed received the material of the Koran from Allah.]

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them [make them holy] today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments [as one would for an audience with a king] 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people [as a special theophany]. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot [with arrows]; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ [Why capital punishment rules about the mountain? God desired to teach his people the seriousness of dealing with him. The mountain was his and it was holy. He has chosen to restrict his presence, manifesting himself to a degree but not fully.] When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments [which must have been a tremendous undertaking]. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” [Now we understand that Moses is speaking to the men. They are to avoid sexual relations not because sex is evil or dirty, but they are to focus on God during their days of preparation and not on themselves.]