Exodus 19:1
ESV
On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
NIV
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.
NASB
In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
CSB
In the third month from the very day the Israelites left the land of Egypt, they came to the Sinai Wilderness.
NLT
Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai.
KJV
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
NKJV
In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
What does Exodus 19:1 mean?
This establishes a timeline from Israel's release from slavery until their encounter with God. Hebrew calendars were based on the lunar cycle, so it has been three months since the people were freed (Exodus 12:40–41). Having left Egypt at Passover, around early April (Exodus 12:14–17), the people are arriving in Horeb in June or July. In that time, they have been miraculously rescued (Exodus 14:21–28), supplied (Exodus 16:13–15), and empowered (Exodus 17:8–13). Now they will receive the rules and laws demonstrating their status as a chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2).Scholars have not determined the exact location of Mount Sinai. The general region, and the mountain in question, are also referred to as "Horeb" (Exodus 17:6; Deuteronomy 5:2; Malachi 4:4) and "the mountain of God" (Exodus 4:27; 24:13). This is the same area where God called to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:1). This territory is believed to be in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula.
