Yahweh Cuts His Covenant with Israel

1Then He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you all shall worship at a distance. 2Moses alone, however, shall come near to Yahweh, but they shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”

3Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of Yahweh and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which Yahweh has spoken we will do!” 4And Moses wrote down all the words of Yahweh. Then he arose early in the morning and built an altar [†]at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to Yahweh. 6And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he [†]sprinkled on the altar. 7Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” 8So Moses took the blood and [†]sprinkled it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has cut with you [†]in accordance with all these words.”

9Then Moses went up [†]with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet [†]there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, [†]as clear as the sky itself. 11Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they beheld God, and they ate and drank.

12Now Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and [†]remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets [†]with the [†]law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.” 13So Moses arose [†]with Joshua his [†]attendant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14But to the elders he said, “Remain here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever [†]has a legal matter, let him approach them.” 15Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16And the glory of Yahweh dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17And the appearance of the glory of Yahweh was like a consuming fire on the mountain top, in the eyes of the sons of Israel. 18Then Moses entered the midst of the cloud [†]as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.