Exodus 19: Where was Moshe?

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Dec 3, 2025 · 5m

The drama builds in chapter 19 to the giving of the Ten Commandments. In the attached picture from 17th-century Dutch artist Ferdinand Bol, Moshe descends the mountain with the Tablets. This scene depicts when Moshe received the Tablets themselves in a few chapters. Chapter 19 reveals the actual Ten Commandments. But where was Moshe when God gave him the Ten Commandments?

Here’s the chart of Moshe’s movements up and down Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:

Verse Action Moshe’s Position

19:3 Moshe goes up to ה׳ Up

19:7 Moshe goes to the elders Down

19:8 Moshe relays people’s words to ה׳ Unclear (likely…