²¹ And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.^(A)

² The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place^(A) behind the veil^(B) in front of the mercy seat^(C) on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud^(D) above the mercy seat.^(E)

The People’s Response

²² “The Lord spoke these commands in a loud voice to your entire assembly from the fire, cloud, and thick darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. He wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me.