בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י לְצֵ֥את בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה בָּ֖אוּ מִדְבַּ֥ר סִינָֽי׃

In the third month, the month of Sivan, from the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, on that day, the first of the month, they came to the wilderness of Sinai.

וַיִּסְע֣וּ מֵרְפִידִ֗ים וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ מִדְבַּ֣ר סִינַ֔י וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיִּֽחַן־שָׁ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נֶ֥גֶד הָהָֽר׃

They traveled from Refidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the wilderness; Israel encamped there next to the same mountain familiar to Moses from his first revelation, when God informed him that the people would worship Him there (3:12).

וּמֹשֶׁ֥ה עָלָ֖ה אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֵלָ֤יו יְהוָה֙ מִן־הָהָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֤ה תֹאמַר֙ לְבֵ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְתַגֵּ֖יד לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Moses ascended the mountain to God; the Lord summoned him from the mountain, saying: So you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell to the children of Israel:

אַתֶּ֣ם רְאִיתֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי לְמִצְרָ֑יִם וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶתְכֶם֙ עַל־כַּנְפֵ֣י נְשָׁרִ֔ים וָאָבִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָֽי׃

You saw what I did to Egypt, all the signs and the miracles, and I bore you on the wings of eagles. You arrived here in a wondrous fashion. Such a long journey for a large nation, including all of the families and baggage, is no simple matter. And I brought you to Me, to this place, where the entire people will experience a direct encounter with God, an unprecedented event in history.

וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּקֹלִ֔י וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֑י וִהְיִ֨יתֶם לִ֤י סְגֻלָּה֙ מִכָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים כִּי־לִ֖י כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Here God summarizes the significance of the forthcoming revelation: N ow, if you will heed My voice, and observe My covenant, then you shall be distinguished, a special treasure for Me from among all the peoples, not only the nations of the region, as all the earth is Mine. Until now God has revealed His love for the Israelites and has aided them in their plight. Here, for the first time, He establishes a covenant with them, which includes mutual obligations.

וְאַתֶּ֧ם תִּהְיוּ־לִ֛י מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְג֣וֹי קָד֑וֹשׁ אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

You shall be for Me a kingdom of priests, a people who serve as priests for all humanity, and a holy nation. Matters that are considered reasonable by others are not necessarily normal for you. The destiny that Israel will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation is not merely a promise of a lofty status; it entails a serious commitment, as explained below. These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel. If the Israelites accept this role upon themselves, they will be given detailed instructions through the Ten Precepts and all of the 613 commandments. However, before this special covenant between God and the people can take effect, they must accept the basic obligations: To listen to His commands, to observe the covenant, and to be His holy people.