Mount Horeb is one of the most important and interesting places mentioned in the Bible. This mountain is located in the middle of the Sinai desert and is an important place for important events and divine meetings. In this article, we are going to examine the events that happened on Mount Horeb, including Moses meeting God and receiving the Ten Commandments.
Receiving the Ten Commandments by Moses: One of the most important events is receiving the Ten Commandments (or Ten Tablets) by Moses from God. (Exodus 19:11-19)
God’s covenant with the people of Israel: At the foot of Mount Horeb, God made a covenant with the people of Israel and called them to obey his laws and orders. (Exodus 20:1-26) (Bible)
Building the Holy Signs: Moses was given instructions to build the holy signs, including the tabernacle of the covenant, the ark of the covenant, and the table of the holy bread, on Mount Horeb. (Exodus 27-25) (Bible)
Worshiping the Golden Calf: While Moses was on Mount Horeb to receive the tablets, the Israelites committed a great sin and worshiped the golden calf as an idol. (Exodus 32) (Bible)
Renewal of the covenant with God: After the repentance and punishment of the people of Israel, God renewed his covenant with them and Moses received the second tablets. (Exodus 34)
Meeting of Moses and God on Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai) – Bible
Chapters 19 to 34 of the Book of Exodus tell the main story of the meeting between Moses and Jehovah (another name for God) on Mount Horeb.
At the beginning of the meeting, Moses must tell the Israelites that God has chosen them as his special possessions. He saved them from slavery and oppression in Egypt with “eagle wings” (Exodus 19:4) and brought them to himself. God tells Moses that if Israel obeys Him completely, they will be His most precious possession among all the nations of the earth. They become a kingdom of priests, a kingdom that introduces God to the whole world.
Then, God comes to Moses with a loud trumpet and in thick clouds. Smoke covers everywhere and covers the mountain because of the fire with which God descended. The mountain trembles with the presence of God when Moses meets God. It is at this time that God gives Moses the Ten Commandments as well as other instructions.
After receiving the ten commandments and commands of God, according to Exodus 24, Moses recounts what he heard to the people. He records God’s words. The next morning, he confirms the vow:
He got up early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent the young men of Israel and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young cows as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses poured half of the blood into bowls and sprinkled the other half on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They replied: “We will do whatever God has said; We will obey.” (Exodus 24:4-7) (Bible)
Then, Moses receives the tablets engraved by God’s hand from God. These tablets contain laws and instructions for teaching and training the people of Israel. (Exodus 31:18) ((Bible))
Finally, God’s glory appears on Mount Horeb, which appears to all the people as a burning fire. Moses goes to the clouds and stays on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. Then, God gives Moses instructions about building a “tabernacle” that is a way for God to flow His presence to the people until they reach the Promised Land. Also, the instructions regarding the priests (priests) are given to Moses.
What happens when Moses takes the people of Israel to Mount Horeb?
While the people of Israel are on Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai), they witness Moses’ meeting with Jehovah (another name for God). They receive the word of God through Moses and pledge to obey God (Exodus 19:8).
People also prepare for God’s descent on the mountain in a thick cloud. They are not allowed to touch the mountain and must consecrate themselves. They stand at the foot of the mountain while Moses meets with God. They cannot approach the mountain to see God because of the holiness that God has given to this place.
When the Ten Commandments are given to Moses, the people tremble with fear because of the loud sound of the trumpet and the smoke that is seen. After Moses conveys what he heard from God to the people, he sprinkles the blood of the sacrifices on them and says: “This blood is the covenant that God made with you according to these words.” (Exodus 24:8) (Bible)
Unfortunately, when the people of Israel are waiting for Moses, when he receives instructions from God about the tabernacle and the priests (priests) on Mount Horeb, they desire to make gods to worship. They are not patient for the return of Moses and they are not obedient as they promised. They commit idolatry and make a golden calf as their god. They bow to this idol and sacrifice to it. Because of their idolatry and great sin, God intends to destroy this people. However, Moses stands between God and the people and asks for God’s forgiveness for Israel. After Moses pleads, God decides not to destroy the people.
Mount Horeb appears as one of the important and holy places in the Bible, where Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments. This meeting and divine commands have the deepest religious and spiritual meanings for humans and show how one can receive guidance and strategy for a spiritual and desirable life with faith and sincerity in God.
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