Event Old Testament
The covenant at Sinai
Also known as Giving of the law, Mosaic covenant
Three months after leaving Egypt, Israel camped before Mount Sinai. God offered to make them His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and spoke the ten commandments from the mountain in fire and smoke. Moses sealed the covenant with the blood of sacrifices and the people promised to obey.
Why it matters. The blood of the covenant at Sinai is the language Jesus used at the Last Supper, and Hebrews contrasts the terrifying mountain with the new covenant. The law given here shapes everything the Gospels say Jesus fulfilled.
- Primary passages
- Dates
- 1450 to 1250 BC (approximate) (disputed confidence, Follows the exodus by three months; shares its dating dispute)
Exodus 19:1 places the arrival at Sinai in the third month after leaving Egypt, so the date depends on which exodus scheme is adopted.
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: disputed
The Sinai covenant follows the exodus by about three months (Exodus 19:1), so its date shares the exodus dispute. Exodus and Deuteronomy both record the ten words, with small differences in wording that Deuteronomy presents as Moses' retelling.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The Passover and the exodus precedes The covenant at Sinai
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceIsrael reaches the wilderness of Sinai in the third month after leaving Egypt.
Evidence:The covenant at Sinai precedes The covenant with David
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceSolomon's temple is dated from the exodus, placing David's reign centuries after Sinai.
Evidence:Moses participates in The covenant at Sinai
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMoses goes up the mountain, relays God's words, and sprinkles the blood of the covenant on the people.
Evidence:The covenant at Sinai occurs at Mount Sinai
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe covenant is given at the mountain where Israel camped after the exodus.
Evidence:The covenant at Sinai develops the theme Covenant
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceExodus calls the ten words and the book read to the people a covenant and seals it with blood.
Evidence: