ISB ~ Hebrews 12 v18 - 21

Israel’s experience at Mount Sinai.

• What may be touched refers to the mountain itself as the Lord descended upon it with a dramatic display of fire and smoke and blaring trumpets (12:18; Ex 19:16-20; Deut 4:11). Terrified by this, the people begged to hear no further messages directly from Yahweh after he had uttered the Decalogue in a thunderous voice (12:19; Ex 19:19; 20:18-20; Deut 5:4). No man or beast was permitted to touch the mountain (Heb 12:20; Ex 19:12-13) except for Moses, who later admitted to trembling with fear (Heb 12:21; Deut 9:19).