The mountain in the Sinai peninsula (probably present-day Jebel Musa), also called Horeb in the OT, where God made a covenant with Israel, establishing them as his people and giving them his laws. In the NT Sinai is seen as symbolising the old covenant.
Mount Sinai and the call of Moses
Exodus 3:1–10 Most scholars agree that the names Horeb and Sinai are used interchangeably of the same mountain, although some see them as referring to separate peaks within the same range. See also Acts 7:30–34
God reveals himself to Israel at Mount Sinai
The people of Israel arrive at Mount Sinai three months after leaving Egypt
God promises to make Israel his people
Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations — for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
God calls for holiness among his people
See also Exodus 19:10–15, Exodus 19:20–24
God appears in a theophany
Exodus 19:16–19 See also Deuteronomy 4:10–12; Hebrews 12:18–21
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
God gives his laws to Israel on Mount Sinai
God gives Israel the Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1–17 parallel Deuteronomy 5:6–21
Israel responds with fear to God's revelation
See also Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:23–27, Deuteronomy 18:16
God gives Israel the Book of the Covenant
Exodus 20:22–23:19 These laws, largely an expansion and exposition of the Ten Commandments, are called “the Book of the Covenant” in Exodus 24:7.
God establishes the covenant with Israel on Mount Sinai
Moses performs the ceremony establishing the covenant
And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splattered on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” So Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Moses and other leaders ascend Mount Sinai to seal the covenant with a meal before God
Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.
Moses ascends Mount Sinai further to receive the stone tablets and the requirements of covenant worship
Exodus 24:12–18 During Moses' 40 days on Mount Sinai, God revealed to him the requirements of covenant worship, as outlined in Exodus 25:1–31:18. See also Leviticus 7:37–38, Leviticus 26:46
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Whoever has a dispute can go to them.” When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites. Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Moses descends Mount Sinai and discovers Israel's idolatry
Exodus 32:19 See also Exodus 32:1–6, Exodus 32:21–35; Deuteronomy 9:8–21; Psalm 106:19–23
As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain.
God commands Israel to move on from Mount Sinai
Exodus 33:1–6, Exodus 33:15–16
God calls Moses up Mount Sinai again
Moses is commanded to prepare new stone tablets
God reveals his nature and name to Moses
And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD. Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
God renews his covenant with Israel
See also Exodus 34:10–28
Moses descends Mount Sinai, his face radiant
The people of Israel prepare to move on from Mount Sinai
God commands Moses to take a census of Israel in the Desert of Sinai
Numbers 1:1–4, Numbers 3:14–16
The Israelites celebrate the Passover at Mount Sinai
The Israelites leave Mount Sinai
Numbers 10:11–13 The Israelites had been at Mount Sinai for almost a year (see also Exodus 19:1); Deuteronomy 1:6–8
Later generations look back to God's revelation on Mount Sinai
Judges 5:5 Ascribing the title “the One of Sinai” to God, Deborah acknowledges the great importance of his revelation at Mount Sinai. See also 1 Kings 19:8–9 Elijah's return to Horeb, the mountain of God, shows his need to hear God clearly again; Nehemiah 9:13–14; Psalm 68:7–8, Psalm 106:19–23; Malachi 4:4; Acts 7:37–38
The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.
Mount Sinai seen by NT writers as a symbol of the old covenant
Galatians 4:24–31 Hagar, Mount Sinai and the present city of Jerusalem stand for the old covenant and bondage to the law, while Sarah and the new heavenly Jerusalem stand for the new covenant and living by faith; Hebrews 12:18–29
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.