This week, we continue with the dialogue between Elohim (God) and Moshe (Moses). Today's reading features Elohim telling Moshe what needs to happen and when ye-Red (he will go down), of course, after much preparation.
Most of this passage is Elohim speaking and he actually is speaking in the third person, see, "he will go down" above. He is telling Moshe to consecrate (set apart) the people and let them wash their clothing. The need to be ready for the third day.
Then El Shaddai (The Almighty) gives a very specific command to set limits around the mountain. He instructs Moshe to insist that no person shall go on the mountain or even touch the edge of it. Anyone who does, man or beast, shall be put to death. And the people would be the ones to put the offenders to death.
The final part of those instructions mention that when the ram's horn is blown, ya-Aloo ba-Har (you shall go up the mountain. The English says "go up to" the mountain but ba is 'on' or 'in' and har is 'mountain.'
The last part of this passage, which is only five verses, tells us that the conversation is over. Moshe returned to the people and started doing what Elohim told him to do. He consecrated them and they washed their clothes. There is a bit more to the preparations but we will cover that next week.
YHVH said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day YHVH will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 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.' No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; 'whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain." So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments.
Next week, Moses teaches consecration...
If you are just starting, my lessons are all here starting at Alef, adding vowels (the dots and lines) as we go. I explain the meaning of each letter and its numerical value. Just go to my blog and scroll to the bottom or click here
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