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296 epic movie The Ten Commandments—that the Children of Israel were free at last, free to proceed through the desert and its hardships to the edge of the Sinai peninsula—all the while led by the Divine Pillar that was a dark cloud during the day and a fiery beacon at night. Water and food shortages, miraculously averted, and a war with an unexpected Amalek- ite enemy, still were in store for them. Finally, "in the third month," they arrived in the Wilderness of Sinai "and en- camped opposite the Mount." They had arrived at their predetermined destination: the "Mountain of the Elohim." The greatest Theophany ever was about to begin. There were preparations and stages in that memorable and unique Divine Encounter, and a price to pay by its chosen witnesses. It began with "Moses going up toward the Elohim," upon the Mount, as "Yahweh called out to him from the Mount," to hear the precondition for the Theophany and its consequences. Moses was told to repeat to the Chil- dren of Israel the Lord's exact words: Tf you will listen to me and keep my covenant, then— out of all the nations— a treasured possession to me you shall be, for the whole Earth is mine; You shall be my kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Earlier, when Moses was given his embassy at this very same mount, Yahweh stated his intention to "adopt the children of Israel as his people," and in turn "to be an Elohim unto them." Now the Lord spelled out the "deal" involved in the Theophany. With the Covenant came commandments and laws and restrictions; they were the price to be paid for qualifying for the Theophany—a unique event by which the Israelites will become a Treasured People, consecrated unto God. "And Moses came and summoned the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words as Yahweh had com- manded. And all the people answered, all together, saying: DIVINE ENCOUNTERS