Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Gary A. Staszak" <sowersoftheseed AT verizon.net>]

Greetings,

This is my first post to b-hebrew. I have just finished my first year  
of Biblical Hebrew and have a grammatical question on Exod. 19:1 (my  
feet are barely wet). The text reads in English (according to the RSV/ 
Owens Analytical):

On the third new moon after the children of Israel had gone forth  
from the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of  
Sinai.

My question is how ought one to hold the second clause temporally in  
relation to the rest of the passage? Stated another way, what is the  
reference point for "that day" (the day of the new moon, the same day  
the Israelites came out of Egypt, or what)?

I understand there are various theological interpretations, but my  
concern is more grammatical in nature.

Thanks.

Gary A. Staszak
Manassas, VA