Preparations

On the first of Sivan, the first day of the third month after the exodus from Egypt, the children of Israel reached the desert of Sinai and camped near the mountain.

During the few weeks of traveling in the desert under Divine protection, with daily miracles, such as the manna and the quail, the miraculous sweetening of the water, the defeat of Amalek, and the crossing of the Red Sea, the Jewish people had become more and more conscious of G-d.

Their faith grew more intense daily, until they attained a standard of holiness, solidarity and unity, never achieved before or after by any other nation.

Moses ascended Mount Sinai, and G-d spoke to him the following words: "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 'You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now, therefore, if you will hearken unto My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. You shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.'"

Moses returned from Sinai and called for the elders of the people and put all these words of G-d before them. Unanimously, with one voice and one mind, the people answered: Naaseh Venishma, "Everything G-d has said, we shall do and understand."

Thus they accepted the Torah outright, with all its precepts, not even asking for a detailed enumeration of the obligations and duties it involved.

When Israel had voiced its eagerness to receive the Torah, G-d spoke to Moses again: "Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the L-rd will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai. And you shalt set bounds unto the people round about saying: Take heed to yourselves, that you go not up onto the Mount, or touch the border of it; whatsoever touches the Mount shall surely die."