There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
No one should touch the mountain with their hand, or they will certainly be killed by stoning or shot with arrows. Whether it's an animal or a person, they must not be allowed to live if they touch it. Only when the trumpet sounds a long blast should the people come up to the mountain.
God is establishing that Mount Sinai is so holy that touching it means death, and the people can only approach when He gives the signal through a trumpet blast.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Exodus, the Israelites had recently escaped slavery in Egypt and were encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai, where God was about to establish His covenant with them. God instructed Moses to warn the people not to touch the mountain until a long trumpet blast signaled it was safe, emphasizing the divine holiness and the danger of approaching God carelessly. This command protected the Israelites from the consequences of irreverence during this sacred encounter.
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