On the third day after these orders had been given, and when all the people stood in readiness, there came a great rumbling in the midst of the mountain, like the sounding of many trumpets. The whole face of the mountain suddenly became a cloud of fire and smoke, and lightning flashed from it with a great crash of thunder while the entire mountain trembled. Then a mighty voice spoke from the midst of the cloud of fire.
From the top of Mount Si'nai the LORD told Mo'ses, in the hearing of all the people, to come up to the top of the mountain. Through the blazing fire and smoke which covered the high mountain of God, Mo'ses bravely climbed until he was in the presence of God. He was then told to return to the people, and to warn the priests and all the people that no one must come near the mountain while it was aflame with the presence of God, and while He was uttering the words of His divine laws.
Mo'ses returnt from the top of Mount Si'nai while the people stood lost in wonder and awe on the plain below. They were cautioned that God was about to speak, and that under the penalty of immediate death they must not touch the foot of the mountain, or go beyond the bounds already set forth.
Then there resounded from the top of the mountain words which all could hear and understand. The LORD said:
"I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of E'gypt, and out of the house of bondage." There followed this solemn announcement the giving of that code of spiritual and moral laws which we know today as "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS." These laws were spoken by the voice of God from the top of Mount Si'nai. Three million Is'ra-el-ites heard them word for word, just as we have them today, except that they were spoken in the language of the He'brews. The translation given in the Bible is absolutely true to the meaning of the original words spoken By God Himself.
The Ten Commandments spoken on this momentous occasion, and in the most remarkable manner of any communications ever given to man by God, stand out above all other revelations of the Old Testament scriptures. They mark the only direct utterance ever made by God to man since the Fall in the Garden of E'den.
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