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
This command was given as the Israelites camped at the base of Mount Sinai, where God was about to give Moses the Ten Commandments. God had descended onto the mountain in fire, smoke, and earthquakes, making it a terrifyingly holy place. The strict boundaries were necessary because God's presence was so pure and powerful that sinful humans or animals couldn't survive direct contact with His holiness.
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