The Torah · Old Testament
Exodus 24
The covenant is read and confirmed before Moses enters the cloud
General context
Moses is instructed to come up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders, while he alone may draw near. He tells the people the Lord's words and judgments, and they promise obedience. Moses writes the words and builds an altar and twelve pillars corresponding to Israel's tribes. Young men offer burnt offerings and peace offerings. Moses places half the blood in basins and sprinkles half on the altar. He reads the book of the covenant aloud, receives the people's repeated promise and sprinkles blood on them, calling it the blood of the covenant concerning these words. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the elders then go up. The text says they see the God of Israel, describing what is under his feet as like sapphire pavement and the clear heavens. They are not struck down and eat and drink. The Lord calls Moses to receive stone tablets and written instruction for teaching. Moses rises with Joshua, leaves Aaron and Hur available to handle matters among those waiting and ascends. The cloud covers the mountain for six days; on the seventh the Lord calls him from it. Moses enters the cloud and remains on the mountain forty days and nights.
Cited passages: Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:2, Exodus 24:3, Exodus 24:4, Exodus 24:5, Exodus 24:6, Exodus 24:7, Exodus 24:8, Exodus 24:9, Exodus 24:10, Exodus 24:11, Exodus 24:12, Exodus 24:13, Exodus 24:14, Exodus 24:15, Exodus 24:16, Exodus 24:17, Exodus 24:18
Exodus 24 (KJV)
1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
2And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.
3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.
4And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord.
6And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
8And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.
9Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
10And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
11And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
12And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
13And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
14And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
15And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
16And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
18And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
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Historical context
The twelve pillars are explicitly connected with the twelve tribes. The offerings are carried out by young men of Israel; the chapter does not identify them as a later priestly order. The blood is applied to the altar and the people, while the written covenant is publicly read. The description of seeing God includes comparisons for the surface under his feet but supplies no detailed account of his appearance. The guide preserves the statement that they saw God without resolving its relationship to other passages. Joshua is called Moses' attendant and rises with him, but this chapter does not specify that Joshua enters the cloud with Moses. The six-day cloud, seventh-day call and forty-day stay are reported without adding an unstated chronological calculation.
Cited passages: Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:2, Exodus 24:4, Exodus 24:5, Exodus 24:6, Exodus 24:7, Exodus 24:8, Exodus 24:9, Exodus 24:10, Exodus 24:11, Exodus 24:12, Exodus 24:13, Exodus 24:14, Exodus 24:15, Exodus 24:16, Exodus 24:17, Exodus 24:18
Literary context
Spoken words become a written text that is then read aloud, and the people answer with a promise both before and after the writing. Blood and the twelve pillars give the covenant ceremony visible forms. The chapter distinguishes the people, the invited leaders and Moses' nearer approach. Its account of a shared meal is followed by the call to receive instruction on stone. Cloud and fire mark the final scene: the people see the glory as like consuming fire, while Moses enters the cloud. The ending establishes an extended stay rather than reporting his return.
Cited passages: Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:2, Exodus 24:3, Exodus 24:4, Exodus 24:5, Exodus 24:6, Exodus 24:7, Exodus 24:8, Exodus 24:9, Exodus 24:10, Exodus 24:11, Exodus 24:12, Exodus 24:13, Exodus 24:14, Exodus 24:15, Exodus 24:16, Exodus 24:17, Exodus 24:18
Key moments
- Moses writes and builds the ceremony’s setting (Exodus 24:4). Moses writes the Lord’s words and builds an altar with twelve pillars corresponding to Israel’s tribes.
- The covenant is read aloud (Exodus 24:7). The people hear the book of the covenant and again promise obedience.
- The leaders see God and share food (Exodus 24:11). The account says the leaders see God, are not struck and eat and drink.
- Moses enters the cloud (Exodus 24:18). Moses enters the cloud and remains on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
For reflection
What changes as the Lord's words are spoken, written and then read aloud to the people?
People in this chapter
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