17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing isn't good. 18You will end up totally wearing yourself out, both you and these people who are with you. The work is too difficult for you. You can't do it alone. 19Now listen to me and let me give you some advice. And may God be with you! Your role should be to represent the people before God. You should bring their disputes before God yourself. 20Explain the regulations and instructions to them. Let them know the way they are supposed to go and the things they are supposed to do. 21But you should also look among all the people for capable persons who respect God. They should be trustworthy and not corrupt. Set these persons over the people as officers of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22Let them sit as judges for the people at all times. They should bring every major dispute to you, but they should decide all of the minor cases themselves. This will be much easier for you, and they will share your load. 23If you do this and God directs you, then you will be able to endure. And all these people will be able to go back to their homes much happier."
24Moses listened to his father-in-law's suggestions and did everything that he had said. 25Moses chose capable persons from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people, as officers over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26They acted as judges for the people at all times. They would refer the hard cases to Moses, but all of the minor cases they decided themselves. 27Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own country.
Arrival at Mount Sinai
Exodus 19On exactly the third-month anniversary of the Israelites' leaving the land of Egypt, they came into the Sinai desert. 2They traveled from Rephidim, came into the Sinai desert, and set up camp there. Israel camped there in front of the mountain 3while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him from the mountain, "This is what you should say to Jacob's household and declare to the Israelites:4You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles' wings and brought you to me. 5So now, if you faithfully obey me and stay true to my covenant, you will be my most precious possession out of all the peoples, since the whole earth belongs to me. 6You will be a kingdom of priests for me and a holy nation. These are the words you should say to the Israelites."
7So Moses came down, called together the people's elders, and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8The people all responded with one voice: "Everything that the LORD has said we will do." Moses reported to the LORD what the people said.
Preparing for a divine encounter
9Then the LORD said to Moses, "I'm about to come to you in a thick cloud in order that the people will hear me talking with you so that they will always trust you."
Moses told the LORD what the people said, 10and the LORD said to Moses: "Go to the people and take today and tomorrow to make them holy. Have them wash their clothes. 11Be ready for the third day, because on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai for all the people to see. 12Set up a fence for the people all around and tell them, 'Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch any part of it.' Anyone who even touches the mountain must be put to death. 13No one should touch anyone who has touched it, or they must be either stoned to death or shot with arrows. Whether an animal or a human being, they must not be allowed to live. Only when the ram's horn sounds may they go up on the mountain."
14So Moses went down the mountain to the people. He made sure the people were holy and that they washed their clothes. 15He told the men, "Prepare yourselves for three days. Don't go near a woman."
16When morning dawned on the third day, there was thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast of a horn. All the people in the camp shook with fear. 17Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain. 18Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD had come down on it with lightning. The smoke went up like the smoke of a hot furnace, while the whole mountain shook violently. 19The blasts of the horn grew louder and louder. Moses would speak, and God would answer him with thunder. 20The LORD came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moses to come up to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21The LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through to try to see the LORD, or many of them will fall dead. 22Even the priests who come near to the LORD must keep themselves holy, or the LORD will break loose against them."
23Moses said to the LORD, "The people aren't allowed to come up on Mount Sinai because you warned us and said, 'Set up a fence around the mountain to keep it holy.'"
24The LORD said to him, "Go down, and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not break through and come up to the LORD. Otherwise, the LORD will break loose against them."25So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20Then God spoke all these words:
2I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3You must have no other gods beforei me.
4Do not make an idol for yourself--no form whatsoever--of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5Do not bow down to them or worship them, because I, the LORD your God, am a passionate God. I punish children for their parents' sins even to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. 6But I am loyal and gracious to the thousandth generationj of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7Do not use the LORD your God's name as if it were of no significance; the LORD won't forgive anyone who uses his name that way.
8Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. 9Six days you may work and do all your tasks, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. Do not do any work on it--not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your animals, or the immigrant who is living with you. 11Because the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them in six days, but rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12Honor your father and your mother so that your life will be long on the fertile land that the LORD your God is giving you.
13Do not kill.k
14Do not commit adultery.
15Do not steal.
16Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17Do not desire and try to take your neighbor's house. Do not desire and try to take your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
18When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the horn, and the mountain smoking, the people shook with fear and stood at a distance. 19They said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we'll listen. But don't let God speak to us, or we'll die."
20Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, because God has come only to test you and to make sure you are always in awe of God so that you don't sin."21The people stood at a distance while Moses approached the thick darkness in which God was present.
Instructions about worship
22The LORD said to Moses: "Say this to the Israelites: You saw for yourselves how I spoke with you from heaven. 23Don't