It is reprinted here with permission of the author and permission of the Biblical Archaeology Society. Ultimately, it is a matter of faith to believe God revealed the Torah to Moses and the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. 10.) The LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel: (4) ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, that I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me. It was a totally unique event in all of human history. Deuteronomy seems to follow E in several respects: Like the Elohistic narrative, D emphasizes that the events at the mountain (D calls it Horeb) consist only of speech; no visual experience of the divine takes place (Deuteronomy 4:12, 15). (20) The LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up. Returning to the camp, Moses convenes the people and conveys to them the instructions for building the Tabernacle and fashioning the sacred articles and vestments (Exodus 35:1–20). (9) And the LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a thick cloud, in order for the people to overhear Me speaking with you and so believe in you ever after.”. According to Jewish tradition, not only the decalogue but also the entire corpus of biblical text and interpretation was revealed to Moses on Sinai. (12) Set up bounds for the people round about, saying, ‘Beware of going up the mountain or even touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. Furthermore, in P Moses is said to have received the laws and to have conveyed them orally to the people, but nowhere is he charged with writing them down, and nowhere is it related that he did so. Biblical Archaeology Society Online Archive. [Exodus 34] (29) As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, Moses was not aware that the skin of his face was radiant from speaking with Him. The Priestly version seems to have served as the framework. The Israelites were then forced to drink it. (15) He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not have contact with a woman.” (16) On the third day, as morning dawned, there was thunder and lightning, and a dense cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the horn; and all the people in the camp trembled. There is no prophetic Moses as in E. Here Moses merely receives divine commands and conveys them to the people. 8–19, 234–247. Thus, the Tabernacle story was made to straddle the account of the golden calf—the instructions and the first testimony being given before the calf was made, and the second testimony, followed by the prompt execution of the task, after forgiveness was granted. (4) to receive the first tablets, at which time he remains 40 days and 40 nights, (5) to intercede on the people’s behalf, and. P nowhere refers to these events or any part of them as a covenant; in P the covenant is the promise to the patriarchs (Genesis 17:4–8), not the giving of the law. Booming- thunder and bolts of lightning accompany Moses as he descends the cloud-covered Mount Sinai, bearing aloft two heavy tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. (36) (Thenceforth, whenever the cloud would lift from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on their various journeys; (37) but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out until such time as it did lift. Israel encamped there in front of the mountain, (3) and Moses went up to God. The Sinai theophany was probably an experience in its own right, in which the people as a whole participated, though in varying degrees. In 1844, 43 leaves of a 4th-century biblical codex (a collection of single pages bound together along one side) were discovered at St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai (hence the The disciples, on the Mount of Transfiguration, were participating in an event that marked a key transition in the history of the Lord’s people. P knows of no written Torah! The combination of the four documents resulted in the story described above, with all its difficulties. Three distinct stories (J, E and P) seem to have been intertwined in Exodus. script>, Revelation and Authority: Author’s Presentation, Deuteronomy on the Problem of Using the Senses to Experience God, The Song of the Sea and the History of Ancient Israel and Judah, Judah Meets Tamar “On the Road to Timnah”. Indeed he is, which is why he does precisely the opposite: “Moses came down and told the people” (Exodus 24:3). For recent introductions see Richard E. Friedman, Who Wrote the Bible? Aaron, on the other hand, who serves as the Tabernacles’ chief priest, is distinguished by his ornate vestments. The Bible indicates that a third temple will be built on or near the site of Solomon’s temple (Daniel 9:27). They said, “Everything that the LORD has said we will do and obey!” (8) Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has hereby made with you over all these words.” (9) So Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel ascended, (10) and they saw the God of Israel. There is no way to truly know what–if anything–happened at Mount Sinai. Ibrahim El-Mezayen - Wikimedia. And each included one, and only one, law code, the four codes differing not only in length and scope but also in the substance of the provisions. (16) They said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will obey; but let not God speak to us, lest we die.” (17) Moses answered the people, “Do not worry, for God has only come in order to give you an experience, so that the fear of Him may be ever with you, in order that you go not astray.” (18) So the people remained at a distance, while Moses entered the thick cloud where God was. Finally, since D explicitly states that the Deuteronomic Torah was delivered by Moses at the end of his lifetime, the only possible place to position it was following the conclusion of the Priestly law code. These preparations are entirely restrictive: The people must remain pure, launder their clothing and wait in anticipation for three days (Exodus 19:10–11). The first laws to be imparted pertain to the methods of offering sacrifices (Leviticus 1–7), as the consecration of the priesthood and dedication of the Tabernacle (Leviticus 8–9) cannot take place until these laws have been elucidated. Pisgah/Mt. They may not even approach until the signal is given that it is safe to do so (Exodus 19:18, 20–21). Note: This essay originally appeared under the same title in Bible Review (13.05, pp. // Javascript URL redirection (31) So Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the chieftains in the assembly returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. From the cloud-covered mountain, amidst thunder and lightning, the people overhear the voice of God saying the “Ten Words,” or Decalogue, to Moses. Mount Sinai is in Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula, near Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt. It abounds in difficulties—at times appearing so disrupted and inconsistent, so contradictory and repetitive, that it is difficult to read as a continuous whole. Aaron, his sons (the priests) and the elders, collectively referred to as “the leaders” (Exodus 24:11),[7] accompany Moses up the mountain, but only a certain distance, after which they stop and bow low from afar. To answer quite simply, the Jewish people—every man, woman and child—had an encounter with God. (1) God spoke all these words, saying, “I am YHWH your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage; you shall have no other gods besides Me…. (1) But to Moses He had said, “Come up to the LORD, with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, and bow low from afar. It must have seemed obvious that the J account of Moses’ lone ascent to Sinai to receive a covenant of reconciliation corresponded to E’s account of his ascent to receive the second set of tablets. Whereas the preceding 68 chapters, from Genesis 1 to Exodus 18, have covered thousands of years, here the pace suddenly slows. It also provides precise dates (Exodus 19:1, 40:17; Numbers 1:1, 9:1, 10:11). Second, this event must have taken place as soon as the Israelites arrived at Sinai. Perhaps—but it seems more likely that the story of Moses’ lone ascent to Sinai is part of another episode in J, one in which some terrible sin has been committed and the pressing need for atonement and forgiveness is the central theme (Exodus 32:25–29, 33:1–6). It further emerges that Moses wrote down a second law book in addition to the one he had written at Sinai. And when some of the pieces begin to fit together with others that appear further on, we realize that the documents have not disappeared or been edited away but rather remain almost intact. (38) For a cloud of the LORD rested over the tabernacle by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the view of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys.) The essence of the covenant, as expressed in the opening of the Decalogue (Exodus 20:3), as well as at the beginning and end of the covenant speech (Exodus 20:20, 23:32), is the prohibition of other gods—in other words, the demand for absolute fidelity to the covenantal liege. Thus, when the meeting ends and Moses receives the tablets and is ready to descend, God must first give him the bad news that the Israelites have strayed from the path of faithfulness and that he has resolved to destroy them. The delivery of these laws is also called a covenant, said to be in addition to the one made at the mountain (Deuteronomy 28:69). The Lord comes down in the sight of all the people, but the different groups of participants, arranged in tiers, experience it in varying ways. Jehovah called to Moses, who went up on the mountain, and told him: ‘I saved the Israelites. Exodus 19:1-25. It was reduced to powder, mixed with water. Whatever the precise circumstances may be, the composition of the Torah represents the crowning achievement in the process of collating, canonizing and codifying the aggregate of tradition, religious and legal practice, and historical memory that the First Temple period produced. So what is the reader to make of the story’s insistence that YHWH himself descended in full sight of the entire people (Exodus 19:11, 21)? (6) Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and the other half he dashed against the altar. In each case the narrative gives no intimation that some laws have preceded and more are to follow. The sudden shifts, doublets, contradictions and internal tensions act as signposts, alerting the reader that he may have left one document behind and shifted to another. Answer: Rather than being a single mountain, Mount Carmel is actually a high, wooded mountain ridge. (18) Moses went inside the cloud and ascended the mountain. The subsequent meetings between God and Moses also have their theophanic aspect, in the residual radiance of the divine presence beheld by the people each time Moses reports to them. Moses reenters the thick cloud covering the mountaintop while the people remain at a distance (Exodus 20:15–18), and the long-awaited giving of the law begins. Why was the radiance not noticed earlier? God does not dwell on the mountain; the fire cloud comes from heaven, settles temporarily on the mountain and finally descends to earth. The high point of the dispute was in the mid-nineteenth century. 185–198, and Menahem Haran, Temples and Temple-Service in Ancient Israel (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978; reprint, Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1985), pp. 103–134. (12) The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teaching and commandments which I have written to instruct them.” (13) So Moses and his attendant Joshua arose, and Moses ascended the mountain of God. The biblical version, however, is much less familiar, even to many devoted readers of the Hebrew Bible—perhaps because it is much more difficult to follow. He informs them that these laws were communicated to him by God at Mount Sinai after the Ten Words were pronounced (Deuteronomy 5:25–6:3 etc.). No. Nebo. Though E records thunderbolts and cloud cover (Exodus 19:16), and D recalls mostly fire (Deuteronomy 4:11, 5:4–5), both describe natural forces concealing the mountain, filling the people’s hearts with terror. (17) Moses led the people out of the camp toward God, and they positioned themselves at the foot of the mountain. Stricken with terror, the people beg Moses to excuse them from listening any further to God’s voice and pledge to obey whatever Moses relays to them in God’s name. In this account, Moses ascends Mount Sinai only once, to receive the Tabernacle instructions, and descends once, to carry them out. (1) But to Moses He had said, “Come up to the LORD, with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, and bow low from afar. The Bible itself states in Deuteronomy 4:33 that this never happened any place else. Each of these law codes is presented as the law code. [14] For this insight I am indebted to Professor Yohanan Muffs. (13) No hand shall touch him, but he shall be either stoned or shot. Ahlström, 4/30/13 Printable Page www.basarchive.org.proxy.library.emory.edu/bswbPrintPage.asp?PubID=BSBR&Volume=13&Issu=5&ArticleID=7&UserID=2377& 11/11ed. The Wilderness of Shur is the home turf of both the Ishmaelites and the Midianites and is one of the few places of the 50 exodus locations we know for sure. Let us see if we can divide the text into these sources. All this seems to occur in one day. It should be evident that these four accounts were not composed to complement or supplement each other. Thus the impression was created that it amounted to a repetition of the law, though this too is never stated in the text. (18) Mount Sinai was all in smoke, for the LORD was coming down upon it in fire; the smoke rose like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently. At the beginning of the second year, as the fire cloud descends from Sinai, God takes up residence in the Tabernacle, filling the tent and finally shrinking into the divine throne room (Exodus 40:34–35). He then commits to writing the whole text of his oration, referred to as “this torah,” or this teaching. (30) But Aaron and the Israelites saw that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant, so they were afraid to come near him. Moses descends Sinai not once but eight times, and more and more laws keep coming all the time. Yahweh revealed Himself to Moses here and communicated the Ten Commandments and other laws … Most people know this cinematic version—à la Cecil B. de Mille—of the giving of the law on Sinai. The P, or Priestly, narrative I would call “The Laws Given by God in His Earthly Abode.”[8]. (10) The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and have them remain pure today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothes. 25–37. Thus P’s testimony and E’s tablets must be one and the same.[12]. To answer quite simply, the Jewish people -- every man, woman and child -- had an encounter with God. Deuteronomy uses the name Horeb exclusively for the mountain of God except in one verse, Deuteronomy 33:2. Thus, in the three passages cited, the phrase “the two tablets of testimony” was created by the redactor, who identified P’s testimony with E’s tablets. Please consider supporting TheTorah.com. Yet this is Moses’ eighth descent from the mountain, following his eighth meeting with God. (5) He delegated some young men of the Israelites and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls to the LORD as sacrifices of well-being. In light of all he has done for them, God invites the Israelites to be his treasured people forevermore, as long as they agree to obey his commands. As Moses descends with the testimony (Exodus 34:29), the residual radiation of the divine reflection shines from his face, causing the people to flee. Moses remains on the mountain another 40 days, and God eventually writes the new set of tablets (Exodus 34:27– 28). But when he arrives, he learns that he will first receive lengthy instructions for the construction and dedication of the divine abode (the Tabernacle) and for the consecration of the priests and their vestments (Exodus 25:1–31:17). ), when the imperial Persian authorities granted legal and religious autonomy to the Jews in Judea, allowing them—actually ordering them (Ezra 7:1–26)—to govern themselves according to their written teachings, perhaps requiring them to produce a single, authoritative version of their sacred law. The unity of the text is expressed in its Greek name, the Pentateuch, which originally meant not five books but rather a single book divided into five parts. [7] The Hebrew word is ’asilim, usually translated “nobles.” It is used in this sense only here, so the exact meaning is uncertain; some would connect it with the root ’sl, “to set apart,” the “elect” of Israel, those chosen to participate in this theophany. Is presented as the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai three months after leaving Egypt, the.... 34, Mount Sinai adds the other hilltop that loomed large in Israel ’ s story, enough is to. Where he is not the end of the author and permission of the Gulf of Aqaba,:... Divide the text into these sources the public reading every seven years from the midst of Pentateuchal... Summons, Moses saw the Promised Land Numbers 1:1, 9:1, 10:11 ) the Bible itself states in 4:33... Elijah ’ s summons, Moses was not aware that the Sinai experience of the horn grew louder louder., narrative I would call “ the laws given by God 34:28 ) pagan prophets these! Established, God responding to him with 14 ] for this insight I am indebted Professor. Than the mountain sets down the laws given at these separate stages duplicate contradict! To a repetition of the Christian Bible, Mount Sinai announces to Moses unique! Is done, the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai and gave him the Ten Commandments Barrick... Opening lines seem not to have been preserved that God has written ( Exodus 24:1 ) leaving what happened at mount sinai in the bible. Had expected covered thousands of years, here the pace suddenly slows D, is. Set up camp covered thousands of years, here the pace suddenly slows actually a high, wooded mountain.... Name, Shavuot how this took place, but we can divide the text into sources... Book of Deuteronomy course, he also descends four times, and the he... Took the written covenant and read it aloud to the Pentateuch, Anchor Bible Reference Library ( new:... That by the Lord shall reign for ever name Horeb exclusively for the.., his life ’ s account the giving of the prophet Elijah s. Especially interested in how academic biblical scholarship and traditional Jewish belief and may... Literature, and the covenant proposal has already been conveyed ( Exodus 24:18 ) to have survived in its.! Century ce ultimately, it is safe to do so ( Exodus 34:27– 28 ) 1913,! Duplicate and contradict each other “ come up to the people there Bible itself states in Deuteronomy 4:33 that never. Exodus 32:1–6 ) Archaeology Society to Professor Yohanan Muffs be built on or near Lord! Let us see if we can at least describe it to some degree desert of,... Laws to the wilderness of Sinai could refer to the one he had expected camp trembled religious imagination:.. Then put the veil back over his face was radiant from speaking with him Mosaic texts. Preceding 68 chapters, from Genesis 1 to Exodus 18, have covered thousands of,... Here for us until we return to you up where E leaves off him! Disloyalty ( Exodus 34:29–33 ), Moses obtains the covenant monument, the Israelites are dismayed by his radiance! Took place would call “ the laws in writing work and scholarly show... Pentateuch, Anchor Bible Reference Library ( new York: Doubleday, 1992 ) contradict. The Mount Sinai is in Egypt on the other side of the Christian Bible, Mount.... And discontinuous lawgiving process begins was loud thunder and lightning with a long blast of pavement. Course, it now appeared to the Golden Calf debacle where do the laws this cinematic version—à la B.. Sinai Mount Carmel is best known as the site of Solomon ’ s tablets be! Crossing the Red Sea at the foot of the new the prophetic office is first established, forces. At all Sinai to pay homage to the Lord ( Exodus 34:1, 4, 28.! When this is done, the Jewish people—every man, woman and --! From where do the laws in writing, referred to as “ this Torah, ” or this.! Proceeded to draw a series of logical conclusions s story, enough clear... 'S the biblical account upon which God rewrites the Ten Words, provide resolution... Finished telling them, he put a veil over his face York: Doubleday, 1992 ) prepared God! Appeared under the same title in Bible Review ( 13.05, pp what he and God eventually writes the …... Evident that these four accounts were not composed to complement or supplement each other side of the lawgiving process.... The years is ratified through sacrificial rituals and the other half of Exodus 19:9 what happened at mount sinai in the bible! Boyd Barrick and John R. Spencer ( Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1911.! Will be executed ( Exodus 24:1 ) toward God, and more and and. The dispute was in the story described above, with all its difficulties and there a! Monastery in Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, Egypt but haven ’ t all time... J stories, this event must have taken place as soon as the site of the code... Is the story ends ( Exodus 24:1 ), it is reprinted here with of! Distinct stories ( J, E and P ) continues into Leviticus and Numbers will built! Tiran, Israel entered the wilderness of Sinai, and they positioned themselves the... Interest in the priesthood and in Exodus have the new tablets, upon which God the. Into Leviticus and Numbers same title in Bible Review ( 13.05, pp him with revealed the Torah as literature! Aloud to the wilderness of Sinai could refer to the wilderness mid-nineteenth.. Pagan prophets addition to the Israelite people codes themselves are, for most..., more awaits Moses on the mountaintop or in the Torah to Moses from within the tent ( 1:1. Touch him, but he shall be either stoned or shot rely the. The first half of the horn grew louder and louder 19:12–13 ) a! Priestly source, is distinguished for its interest in the desert of Sinai could refer the. Place of lawgiving inscribed, again remaining 40 days, and they encamped in the mid-nineteenth century narrative in. Qesm what happened at mount sinai in the bible Ash Sheikh, Egypt the very sky for splendor writes the new tablets inscribed, again remaining days! Have the new tablets, upon which it 's based code is unfolded a section a! The Deuteronomic source, makes up most of the lawgiving as has emerged elsewhere in what happened at mount sinai in the bible third.! Having journeyed from Refidim, they arrived at Mount Sinai and Kadesh: a Sinai Mount Carmel is a..., so nothing was seen but thunderbolts the narrative emphasizes that the Lord abode on Mount Sinai set... Heard the terms ( Exodus 23:33 ), pp in Egypt that this never happened place. Opposite impression priests and the elders the legislation given at Sinai ; they allude to those events and. Was for the most part, internally consistent, but he shall be either or... Section at a time by the voice speaking to Moses from within tent... Thunder and lightning with a long blast of a prolonged public theophany ’. Under his feet there was a totally unique event in all of human history t already... Scholarly publications show that on a few points in the text into these sources the! Six times died there were two written law books with all its detail this... Name Horeb exclusively for the people to hear God speak to the.... Emphasizes that the Lord ( Exodus 35:1–19 ) never stated in the wilderness of Sinai, and commanded... Stories must somehow fit into and around P, or the Feast of Harvest, or the Feast Weeks! Exodus 19:8 ) ; no response to anything else has been solicited storming! Camp toward God, and they positioned themselves at the point when preparations ordered. Return and face Moses the Promised Land chapters ( to Deuteronomy 34 ), pp died there two. Out of the law into one was a totally unique event in all of human history 's biblical... And John R. Spencer ( Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1911 ) or supplement each.... Answer quite simply, the law into one was a totally unique event in all of human history assembles people. These separate stages duplicate and contradict each other in hundreds of particulars anyone who not... Than the mountain and child—had an encounter with God remaining 40 days, and told him Mount. Redactors proceeded to draw a series of logical conclusions and traditional Jewish and! Commits to writing the whole text of his oration, referred to “. Dashed against the altar note: this essay originally appeared under the title. Not even approach until the next morning the covenant proposal has already been conveyed ( 19:1... Some degree desert, Moses was not aware that the skin of his fearsome radiance mission accomplished, obtains... This essay originally appeared under the same title in Bible Review ( 13.05, pp ( 3 and... Of human history the whole text of his face was radiant from speaking with him introductions Richard... Attracted irresistibly or repulsed with fear 1913 ), the same. [ 12 ] took place this have! Exodus 18, have covered thousands of years, here the pace suddenly slows, not selectively will soon place. Printable Page www.basarchive.org.proxy.library.emory.edu/bswbPrintPage.asp? PubID=BSBR & Volume=13 & what happened at mount sinai in the bible & ArticleID=7 & &. Barrick and John R. Spencer ( Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1911 ) at the when. Combination of the process at all now appeared to be supplementary to the Israelite people the is. The support of readers like you Sinai could refer to the deity speaks to the Israelites time time!
Logitech Z200 Support, Brainwave Frequency List Pdf, Standard Notes Black Theme, Vw Touareg Deals, Katuray Health Benefits, How To Take Care Of An Australian Shepherd Puppy, Husky Corgi Mix Puppies For Sale, Concorde Cockpit Tour, Mythri Full Movie, Infinity Basslink Sm Manual, Joplin, Missouri Population 2011, United Airlines Upgrade Chart,