Revelation of the Law at Mount Sinai

Revelation of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exod. 19–24)

While the Israelites are encamped in the wilderness of Sinai, YHWH reveals the law to Moses at Mount Sinai, and Moses reports to the Israelites. In most cases, “Israelites” refers to both male and female Israelites, but women are excluded from observance of the law in this instance. The most obvious example takes place when the people are consecrated. As part of the instructions for consecration, Moses says, “Do not go near a woman” (19:15). Moses is instructing Israelite men to abstain from sex, which would make a man ritually impure (cf. Lev. 15:18 [P]; 1 Sam. 21:4), but he is not addressing women. This exclusion does not mean that women are permitted to transgress the law with impunity, but it does suggest that women are not treated as subjects. Nor are they full members of the community with the same obligations and responsibilities as men. Men are required to appear at the three major pilgrimage festivals, and the text specifies twice that it is the “males” who shall appear (23:17; 34:23). Women appear to be exempt from participation…