The covenant is sealed at Sinai

24:1 But to Moses the Lord said, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from a distance. 24:2 Moses alone may come near the Lord, but the others must not come near, nor may the people go up with him.” 24:3 Moses came and told the people all the Lord’s words and all the decisions. All the people answered together, “We are willing to do all the words that the Lord has said,” 24:4 and Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Early in the morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain and arranged twelve standing stones – according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 24:5 he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls for peace offerings to the Lord. 24:6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and half of the blood he splashed on the altar. 24:7 he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people, and they said, “We are willing to do and obey all that the Lord has spoken.” 24:8 So Moses took the blood and splashed it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 24:9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up, 24:10 and they saw the God of Israel. under his feet there was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself. 24:11 But he did not lay a hand on the leaders of the Israelites, so they saw God, and they ate and they drank. 24:12 the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me to the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments that I have written, so that you may teach them.” 24:13 So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up the mountain of God. 24:14 He told the elders, “Wait for us in this place until we return to you. Here are Aaron and Hur with you. Whoever has any matters of dispute can approach them.” 24:15 Moses went up the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 24:16 The glory of the Lord resided on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moses from within the cloud. 24:17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in plain view of the people. 24:18 Moses went into the cloud when he went up the mountain, and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

God calls Moses and the leaders up the mountain. Moses tells the people the Lord’s words, and the people promise to obey. Moses writes the covenant words, offers sacrifices, and sprinkles blood on the altar and on the people. Then the leaders see the God of Israel in a limited way, eat and drink before him, and Moses goes farther up the mountain to receive the tablets while the glory of the Lord rests on Sinai.

This chapter shows Israel’s covenant with the Lord being formally sealed at Sinai. The Lord does not allow everyone to come near in the same way. Moses may come close, but the leaders and the people must stay at a distance. This shows that God is holy and that access to him is not casual.

Moses speaks the Lord’s words to the people, and they agree to do all that he has said. The words are then written down. An altar is built, and twelve stones stand for the twelve tribes of Israel. Sacrifices are offered. Half the blood is put on the altar, and half is sprinkled on the people. Moses calls this the blood of the covenant. The blood shows that this covenant is serious and costly.

Moses and the elders then go up and see the God of Israel in a limited, guarded way. They are not destroyed. They eat and drink before him, which shows peace and covenant fellowship. After that, the Lord calls Moses higher up the mountain to receive the stone tablets and teach the covenant words. The cloud, the glory, and the fire all show the holiness and majesty of the Lord. Moses remains on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

• God set a limit on who could come near him at Sinai.
• The people heard the Lord’s words and pledged to obey them.
• The covenant words were written down and read aloud.
• Sacrifices and blood were part of the covenant ratification.
• The blood of the covenant marked a serious bond between the Lord and Israel.
• The leaders saw the God of Israel in a limited way and were not struck down.
• Eating and drinking before God showed peace and fellowship.
• Moses alone went farther up the mountain to receive the tablets.
• The glory of the Lord rested on Sinai in cloud and fire.
• Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

• The passage warns against approaching God presumptuously.
• The people twice promise to do and obey all that the Lord has spoken.
• Moses is told to come up the mountain and remain there.
• The elders are told to wait and let disputes come to Aaron and Hur.
• The covenant blood shows that fellowship with God is costly and serious.

This chapter stands at the start of Israel’s life as the Lord’s covenant people after the exodus. It joins redemption from Egypt to covenant fellowship at Sinai. The covenant blood, the mediator Moses, the cloud, and the restricted access all prepare for the tabernacle and for later biblical teaching about a greater mediator and fuller access to God.

God’s people should listen carefully to his words and obey them. Worship should be marked by reverence, not casualness. This passage also reminds readers that peace with God is his gift and that sin is not ignored. Leaders have real responsibility to teach and guide under God’s word.

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