Mount Sinai was covered with smoke. Smoke rose off the mountain like smoke from a furnace. This happened because the Lord came down to the mountain in fire. Also, the whole mountain began to shake.
And the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in the thick cloud. I will speak to you. All of the people will hear me talking to you. I will do this so that the people will always believe the things you tell them.”
Then the Lord answered, “I will cause my perfect Goodness to go before you. I am the Lord and I will announce my name so that you can hear it. Why? Because I can show my kindness and love to any person I choose.
Then I will come down and speak with you there. The Spirit [158] is on you now. But I will also give some of that Spirit [159] to them. Then they will help you take care of the people. In this way, you will not have to be responsible for these people alone.
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. The Spirit [160] was on Moses. The Lord put that same Spirit on the 70 elders (leaders). After the Spirit came down on them, they began to prophesy. [161] But that was the only time these men ever did this.