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| PentecostalTheology.com
After leaving Egypt, the Israelites traveled to Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:1 records their arrival:
בחדש השלישי לצאת בני־ישראל מארץ מצרים ביום הזה באו מדבר סיני
Apparently this date can be understood differently:
On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. (ESV)
In the third month of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in this day they have come into the wilderness of Sinai (YLT)
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. (NIV)
Passover (the 14th), which is the time of the full moon and the first day of Unleavened Bread (the 15th) mark the day of departure. So on the first day of the third month (NIV) or in the third month (YLT) would mean about 46 days after the Passover. This fits the traditional timeline of the Decalogue given on the 50th day after Passover. On the other hand, arriving on the third new moon after leaving Egypt places the event in the following month:
This "extra" time seems to be a better fit with what takes place beginning in the second month:
- On the 16th of the second month the manna begins
- The first Sabbath was observed on the 22nd day of the second month
- Travel to Rephidim were they receive water from a rock
- Defeat Amalek
- Jethro visits and Moses changes how the people are judged
- Arrive at Sinai
- The LORD speaks on the morning three days after arriving
In particular, the giving of the manna leading to the first Sabbath on the 22nd and a following Sabbath on the 29th means quite a bit must be packed into a period of less than 2-weeks if the Decalogue is given in the third month.
Is on the third new moon after leaving a correct understanding of the date they arrived?
