Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb, is the sacred mountain where God established the covenant with the assembled people of Israel following their departure from Egypt. Here Moses ascended the heights to receive the divine statutes and teachings.
Giving of the Law
Enveloped in clouds and smoke, the summit of Sinai was the site where Moses received the two tablets of the Ten Commandments. During his prolonged stay on the mountain, unrest erupted in the camp below, resulting in the creation of the golden calf supervised by Aaron. After restoring order, Moses returned to the summit to receive the renewed tablets.
The Sanctuary
At Sinai, detailed specifications were provided for the construction of the Ark of the Covenant and the portable Tabernacle. From this desert mountain, the organized camp set forth on its journey toward Canaan, guided by the leadership of Moses and eventually Joshua.