Jo’s Place

The People are Afraid of God’s Presence As Moses continued to instruct the young people of Israel… he said: “So it was, when you heard the voice, from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, …all the heads of your tribes and your elders.  And you said:  ‘Surely the Lord, our God, has shown us His glory and His greatness, …and we have heard His voice, from the midst of the fire.  We have seen, this day, that God speaks with a man; and yet he still lives.  Now, therefore, why should we die?  For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord, our God, any more, …then we shall die.  For who is there, of all flesh, who has heard the voice of the living God, speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?  You go near …and hear all, that the Lord, our God, may say, …and tell us all that the Lord, our God, says to you, …and we will hear and do it.’ “Then, the Lord heard the...

The Vow of the People Then the rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, Temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the pagan people of the land in order to obey the Law of God, together with their wives, sons, daughters, and all who were old enough to understand—joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath.  They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by His servant Moses.  They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord:  (they said) “We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people of the land, and not to let our sons marry their daughters.  “We also promise that if the people of the land should bring any merchandise or grain to be sold on the Sabbath or on any other holy day, we will refuse to buy it.  Every seventh year we will let our land rest, and we will cancel all debts owed to us.  “In addition, ...