(15) All the people could see the thunder and lightning, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking; the people saw it, they moved back and stood far off. (16) They said to Moses, "You speak to us yourself, and we will listen, but don't let God speak to us, or else we'll die.” (17) Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, for God has come in order to test you, and so that reverence for God may be upon you, to keep you from sinning.” (18) The people stood far off and Moses approached the thick mist where God was.
(1) And these are the laws that you shall set before them: (2) If you acquire a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh year he shall go free, without payment....
Study Questions on Exod 20 and 21
**Background: The text from Exod 20, above, comes immediately after the Ten Commandments are declared. There is some question among traditional commentators about whether this actually might have happened earlier, prior to the Ten, but our focus is on the fact that Moses went up on Mt. Sinai alone at some point--wherever it was exactly--and communed with God.
The Exod 21 passage introduces a very long set of commandments (all of chapters 21-23) that deal with many topics such as slavery, murder, personal injury, property damage, theft, lending money, gossip, helping strangers and neighbors, Shabbat and festivals, idolatry, and more.**
1. Although the text does not truly spell it out, what do you think it going on in the Exod 21 text? Who is getting these laws; where and when are they given? (Look in the full Exodus text of chapters 20 and 21 using a Tanakh or Sefaria, if needed, to see the fuller context.)
2. According to Exod 20:15-18, why didn't God give all the laws out loud to the whole people, just like the Ten Commandments seem to be given?
(א) וְאֶל־מֹשֶׁ֨ה אָמַ֜ר עֲלֵ֣ה אֶל־יהוה אַתָּה֙ וְאַהֲרֹן֙ נָדָ֣ב וַאֲבִיה֔וּא וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים מִזִּקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם מֵרָחֹֽק׃ (ב) וְנִגַּ֨שׁ מֹשֶׁ֤ה לְבַדּוֹ֙ אֶל־יהוה וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֣א יִגָּ֑שׁוּ וְהָעָ֕ם לֹ֥א יַעֲל֖וּ עִמּֽוֹ׃ (ג) וַיָּבֹ֣א מֹשֶׁ֗ה וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר לָעָם֙ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י יהוה וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֑ים וַיַּ֨עַן כׇּל־הָעָ֜ם ק֤וֹל אֶחָד֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יהוה נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃
(ד) וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֵ֚ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֣י יהוה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּ֥בֶן מִזְבֵּ֖חַ תַּ֣חַת הָהָ֑ר וּשְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה לִשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ה) וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח אֶֽת־נַעֲרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּֽעֲל֖וּ עֹלֹ֑ת וַֽיִּזְבְּח֞וּ זְבָחִ֧ים שְׁלָמִ֛ים לַיהוה פָּרִֽים׃ (ו) וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֹשֶׁה֙ חֲצִ֣י הַדָּ֔ם וַיָּ֖שֶׂם בָּאַגָּנֹ֑ת וַחֲצִ֣י הַדָּ֔ם זָרַ֖ק עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (ז) וַיִּקַּח֙ סֵ֣פֶר הַבְּרִ֔ית וַיִּקְרָ֖א בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יהוה נַעֲשֶׂ֥ה וְנִשְׁמָֽע׃
(1) Then he said to Moses, "Come up to Adonai, you and Aaron, Nadav and Avihu [Aaron's sons], and seventy elders of Israel, and bow down from far off. (2) Moses alone shall approach Adonai, but the others shall not approach, nor shall the people come up with him." (3) Moses came and reported to the people all the words of Adonai as well as all the laws. All the people answered with one voice, saying, “Everything Adonai has spoken we will do!”
(4) Moses wrote all the words of Adonai, then he rose early in the morning, set up an altar at the foot of the mountain and twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. (5) He sent some young men from the Israelites, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as sacrifices of well-being to Adonai. (6) Moses took half the blood [from the sacrifices] and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he threw upon the altar. (7) Then he took the Scroll of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. They said, “All that Adonai has spoken we will do and we will obey!”
Study Questions on Exod 24:1-7
**Background: This takes place in the book of Exodus after the long set of commandments (mentioned above) is recorded. Moses leads a large group up the mountain, but only Moses speaks directly with God. However, following this, the whole people participates in some type of important ceremony.**
1. How would you describe Moses' role in this text?
2. What is going on here between the people and God?
3. In verse 3, what do you think is the possible difference between "all the words" and "all the laws"?
4. Compare verses 3, 4, and 7. How did Moses communicate to the people in different ways?
(יב) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יהוה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה עֲלֵ֥ה אֵלַ֛י הָהָ֖רָה וֶהְיֵה־שָׁ֑ם וְאֶתְּנָ֨ה לְךָ֜ אֶת־לֻחֹ֣ת הָאֶ֗בֶן וְהַתּוֹרָה֙ וְהַמִּצְוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּתַ֖בְתִּי לְהוֹרֹתָֽם׃ (יג) וַיָּ֣קׇם מֹשֶׁ֔ה וִיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ מְשָׁרְת֑וֹ וַיַּ֥עַל מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים....
(טז) וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן כְּבוֹד־יהוה עַל־הַ֣ר סִינַ֔י וַיְכַסֵּ֥הוּ הֶעָנָ֖ן שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֛ה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י מִתּ֥וֹךְ הֶעָנָֽן׃ (יז) וּמַרְאֵה֙ כְּב֣וֹד יהוה כְּאֵ֥שׁ אֹכֶ֖לֶת בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר לְעֵינֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (יח) וַיָּבֹ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הֶעָנָ֖ן וַיַּ֣עַל אֶל־הָהָ֑ר וַיְהִ֤י מֹשֶׁה֙ בָּהָ֔ר אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים לָֽיְלָה׃ {פ}
(12) And Adonai said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and remain there. And I will give you the Tablets of Stone, and the Teaching, and the Commandment which I have written down to instruct them." (13) So Moses and his attendant Joshua stood up, and Moses climbed the mountain of God....
(16) The Presence of Adonai was dwelling on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moses from within the cloud. (17) Now the sight of the Presence of Adonai was like a consuming fire at the top of the mountain, in full view of the Israelites. (18) Moses entered within the cloud and climbed the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Study Questions on Exod 24:12-18
1. How are we supposed to understand the terms "Tablets of Stone," "the Teaching," and "the Commandment"--do you think they are all one thing? Three things? Or what? Explain your thinking.
2. Compare verse 12 in this text to verse 4 in the previous one. What kushiya does this raise?
3. Speculate: why would Moses need to be on the mountain for 40 days? What's happening there?
(כט) וַיְהִ֗י בְּרֶ֤דֶת מֹשֶׁה֙ מֵהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י וּשְׁנֵ֨י לֻחֹ֤ת הָֽעֵדֻת֙ בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בְּרִדְתּ֖וֹ מִן־הָהָ֑ר וּמֹשֶׁ֣ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֗ע כִּ֥י קָרַ֛ן ע֥וֹר פָּנָ֖יו בְּדַבְּר֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ׃ (ל) וַיַּ֨רְא אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכׇל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה קָרַ֖ן ע֣וֹר פָּנָ֑יו וַיִּֽירְא֖וּ מִגֶּ֥שֶׁת אֵלָֽיו׃ (לא) וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֧בוּ אֵלָ֛יו אַהֲרֹ֥ן וְכׇל־הַנְּשִׂאִ֖ים בָּעֵדָ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֲלֵהֶֽם׃ (לב) וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן נִגְּשׁ֖וּ כׇּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיְצַוֵּ֕ם אֵת֩ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יהוה אִתּ֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר סִינָֽי׃
(לג) וַיְכַ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִדַּבֵּ֖ר אִתָּ֑ם וַיִּתֵּ֥ן עַל־פָּנָ֖יו מַסְוֶֽה׃ (לד) וּבְבֹ֨א מֹשֶׁ֜ה לִפְנֵ֤י יהוה לְדַבֵּ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ יָסִ֥יר אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶ֖ה עַד־צֵאת֑וֹ וְיָצָ֗א וְדִבֶּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְצֻוֶּֽה׃ (לה) וְרָא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה כִּ֣י קָרַ֔ן ע֖וֹר פְּנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֑ה וְהֵשִׁ֨יב מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶת־הַמַּסְוֶה֙ עַל־פָּנָ֔יו עַד־בֹּא֖וֹ לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃ {ס}
(29) When Moses came down from Mount Sinai--with the two Tablets of Testimony in Moses' hands as he came down the mountain--Moses did not know that the skin of his face was shining because of speaking with him. (30) Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses and the skin of his face was shining--and they were afraid to approach him. (31) But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the community returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. (32) And afterwards, all the Israelites approached and he commanded them regarding everything that Adonai had spoken with him about on Mount Sinai.
(33) And when Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. (34) And when Moses entered before Adonai to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out. Then he would come out and tell the Israelites what he had been commanded, (35) and the Israelites would see Moses’ face, how the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would replace the veil over his face until he entered to speak with him.
אֵ֠לֶּה הַֽחֻקִּ֣ים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֮ וְהַתּוֹרֹת֒ אֲשֶׁר֙ נָתַ֣ן יהוה בֵּינ֕וֹ וּבֵ֖ין בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּהַ֥ר סִינַ֖י בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ {פ}
(46) These are the regulations, the laws, and the teachings that Adonai established between himself and the Israelites on Mount Sinai, through Moses.
Study Questions on Exod 34 and Lev 26
**Background: Between chapters 24 and 34 of Exodus a lot happens on Mount Sinai, primarily because of the incident with the "Golden Calf." When he sees the people honoring that idol, Moses smashes the first set of tablets which God had given him. Later, God has Moses come up the mountain again to receive a second set of the Ten Commandments (this time Moses has to carve out stone tablets himself to take up there with him). At that time, God also reveals to Moses the 13 divine qualities of grace, mercy, patience, compassion, and forgiveness.
Lev 26:46 is almost at the end of the book of Leviticus. This verse is a bit surprising since it's basically been a whole book since Mount Sinai was last mentioned as the place where Moses meets with God.**
1. What are the two names we find in the texts on this sheet for the tablets Moses brought down the mountain?
2. In verse 34, where do you think Moses would "enter before Adonai to speak with him"? Notice that this is after Moses has returned from Mount Sinai. (We'll be discussing this more in the next part of the unit.)
3. Based on all the sources on this sheet, describe what information you believe God gave to Moses to transmit to Israel. Pay special attention to all the verses which have been bolded.