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The
Covenant at Sinai
A covenant is a contractual agreement between two parties to do
or not do something. While covenants between peoples and between
individuals were quite common in the ancient world, the idea of
a covenant with a deity was highly unusual. Nonetheless, the accompanying
passage from Exodus describes a solemn pact, entered into at Sinai,
that bound and obligated both God and the people Israel. In it Israel
accepted YHWH's law, and YHWH promised Israel His blessings.
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On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of
the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness
of Sinai. They had journeyed from Rephidim,
entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness;
Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went
up to God; YHWH
called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say
to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen
what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles'
wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if
you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my
treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the
whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a
priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words
that you shall speak to the Israelites."
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