Shemot 19

            We finally arrived in Sinai and we made an encampment opposite the mountain.  We came to Sinai as more of a group of individuals, but when we encamped opposite the mountain, I really felt like we were one nation [1]. 

I ascended the mountain to meet with G-d, and He told me to tell the nation how G-d “bore them on eagles’ wings” and brought them to Him.  I really liked this metaphor, because it makes our exodus feel more… triumphant, you know?  The eagle, it just seems to symbolize glory; I don’t know, that’s at least what I think [2]. Also, you can look at it as meaning that G-d protects us from other nations, as a mother eagle does when she carries her young on her back.  We have nothing to fear from above, for that it G-d’s domain, we only have to fear the other nations, but if G-d is in between them and us, then we have nothing to fear [3]!

            And then G-d spoke of the covenant.  Now, I don’t know about you, but I think that a covenantal relationship really is the best way to go here.  A covenant is a mutual agreement between two parties to do or not to do something.  I really like this, because it makes G-d seem like he’s not dominating over us and forcing us to do something, we have a choice and He is in the covenant just as much as we are.  Also, it prevents the nation from taking advantage of G-d’s protection and might.  The nation always has to be on their best behavior if they want to keep G-d with them [4].

Then, He said that if we obey G-d and keep His covenant, then we would be a treasure out of all peoples, and we would be a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.  Now, the part about the “treasure out of all people” probably just means that we’re awesome and special, but the “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” part was a little bit more confusing at first.  Here’s what I took it to mean: each person in the nation has their own special relationship with G-d, hence the type of priesthood of all believers.  This is different from all other nations, because in all other nations, they might not have each person connecting with G-d, but since we do, we are a holy nation [5].

So I summoned all the elders of Israel and told them what G-d had told me.  Then, they told the entire nation what I had told them [6].  Then, the people all replied as one that they would do what G-d had spoken.  This was really great because though the nation is comprised of individuals with their own opinions, they all answered as a single nation, as one [7].

I went back up to the top of the mountain and G-d told me that he would come to me in a cloud and that the people of the nation would hear Him talking to me.  This way, the people would believe in me.  I then went back down to the people [8] and told them the plan, however, they did not like it.  They said that they wanted to directly hear from you, for there is no comparison between someone who hears from the mouth of a messenger and from one would hears from the mouth of a king [9].  Then, I went back up the mountain and told G-d what they said to me [10].

G-d actually listened to the people’s request [11], so He told me to prepare the people by washing their clothes.  Then, on the third day, G-d would descend before the eyes of the nation upon Mount Sinai.  However, he told me that the people should not touch the mountain, and that I should set boundaries for them.  Because G-d is descending on the mountain, touching the mountain is like touching G-d, which is a big no no [12].  I think that it’s a good idea for G-d to place boundaries with the people.  Though they are a nation of priests, there needs to be some separation between G-d and the nation.  They need to know that there are limits to their holiness, lest they think too highly of themselves [13].

So I descended the mountain and prepared the people by telling them to wash their clothing and not to touch women.  On the third day, in the morning, loud thunderclaps came from the mountain and a loud shofar blast, and the nation shuddered.  So, I brought the people out towards G-d because they were so scared, they needed someone to bring them out [14].  It looked as if G-d would follow the second plan, that he would be more direct with the people [15].  Then, the mountain shook violently and smoked and the shofar sound grew louder and louder.  However, G-d ended up going with the first plan, where we would talk and the nation would hear us talk [16].  G-d did say the first two of the Ten Utterances [17] and He also gave me the strength to say the other eight [18]. 

I think G-d felt that plan was better because He tried to be direct with the people, but they cowered away; they weren’t ready for that type of divine contact [19].  Also, it was good for them to know their boundaries, less they feel like they are too close to G-d.  G-d knows I am very humble and would not see myself as an equivalent to G-d, but the people, if they were to speak directly with G-d, might think to highly of themselves [20].

However, the way in which G-d showed Himself to the nation was a little different from the way He showed Himself to me back near the burning bush.  There, He came to me with a wonderful and awesome sight, whereas here, He came to them much more violently [21].  I don’t blame them from shuddering; G-d may have gone a little over the top [22].

Then, G-d summoned me to the top of the mountain and started telling me to warn the people not to get closer.  I told Him that the people were not going to ascend the mountain.  Then, he told me to go down and then ascend again with Aaron, warning me if anyone else came they would be destroyed.  Now, I think this point was a little repetitive [23].  I know it’s important to establish boundaries, but why did G-d have to repeat the same warning over and over again?  Whatever the reason, I know for sure that the people should not try to ascend the mountain, unless they want to die.