Exodus 19:9-20
19:9 a See also Deut 4:12 b, 33 c.Summary for Exod 19:10-15: 19:10-15 d In the second phase of preparation, the people received commands that would prepare them to receive God’s covenant. They were to wash their clothing (19:10 e, 14 f) because God is pure. They were to prepare a boundary all around the mountain (19:12-13 g) and be careful not to cross it because God is holy. They were to abstain from having sexual intercourse (19:15 h) because God is not a sexual being, and his blessings are not produced through sexual activity. Things that are natural and right under ordinary circumstances were to be set aside for the extraordinary purpose of concentrating on the Lord, the King who was about to appear before the people. Only their compliance with the second of these commands is specifically reported (19:23 i), but it is safe to assume that they obeyed the other two as well since no negative response from the Lord is recorded.
• Hebrews 12:18-22 j contrasts this experience at Mount Sinai with the believer’s experience at Mount Zion, “the heavenly Jerusalem.”
Summary for Exod 19:16-25: 19:16-25 k The final phase of preparation involved phenomena that moved the people toward acceptance of the covenant. Some of the experiences were visual: lightning and a cloud (19:16 l), smoke and fire (19:18 m). The people also heard thunder, a ram’s horn, and the voice of God (19:16 n, 19 o), and the whole mountain shook violently (19:18 p). In the Bible, such phenomena are often associated with a theophany, which is a visible manifestation of God’s holy presence.
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