Exodus 24: A Detailed Explanation

Introduction

Exodus 24 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Exodus, as it formalizes the covenant between God and Israel at Mount Sinai. This chapter marks a significant moment where Israel collectively commits to obeying God's laws, and Moses, along with other leaders, ascends the mountain to witness God's glory.

This chapter can be divided into several key sections:

God’s Invitation to the Leaders (Verses 1-2)
The People Affirm the Covenant (Verses 3-8)
The Leaders See God (Verses 9-11)
Moses Ascends Mount Sinai (Verses 12-18)

Each of these sections carries profound theological and historical significance. Let’s explore them in detail.

1. God’s Invitation to the Leaders (Exodus 24:1-2)

Verse 1:

"Then He said to Moses, 'Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship from afar.'"

Here, God instructs Moses to bring Aaron, Aaron’s two sons (Nadab and Abihu), and seventy elders of Israel to approach Him. This is a significant moment because it involves more than just Moses—it includes a wider leadership group.

Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu: Aaron was the High Priest, and his two sons were among the first priests. However, Nadab and Abihu later die (Leviticus 10) because they disobey God’s instructions on worship.
Seventy Elders: The number seventy is symbolic of completeness and represents the leadership of Israel. This shows that the covenant was not just with Moses but with the entire nation.

God makes it clear that they can approach but must worship “from afar,” showing that there are limits to human access to His divine presence.

Verse 2:

"And Moses alone shall come near the Lord, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with him."

Moses alone is allowed to enter the most intimate presence of God, reinforcing his unique role as the mediator between God and Israel. The rest of the people must keep their distance, emphasizing God's holiness and the seriousness of His presence.

2. The People Affirm the Covenant (Exodus 24:3-8)

Verse 3:

"So 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 has said we will do.'"

This verse shows the people’s willingness to obey God. Moses presents God’s laws, and the people unanimously agree. This reflects their commitment but also foreshadows their later failure (Exodus 32, the golden calf incident).

Verse 4:

"And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel."

Moses wrote the words: This is significant because it establishes that God's words were recorded for future generations.
The altar and twelve pillars: The altar represents God, while the twelve pillars represent the twelve tribes of Israel. This signifies that the entire nation is entering into a covenant with God.

Verses 5-6:

"Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar."

Burnt offerings and peace offerings: These symbolize atonement (burnt offering) and fellowship with God (peace offering).
The blood ceremony: Blood is a key part of the covenant. Sprinkling half on the altar represents God’s acceptance, while the other half will later be sprinkled on the people.

Verse 7:

"Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, 'All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.'"

The Book of the Covenant includes the laws given in previous chapters (Exodus 20-23). The people reaffirm their commitment, showing their willingness to follow God’s laws.

Verse 8:

"And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.'"

Blood Sprinkling: The people are covered with blood, symbolizing their purification and acceptance into the covenant.
Foreshadowing Jesus Christ: This verse directly parallels Matthew 26:28, where Jesus says, "This is My blood of the new covenant." The Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of animals, while the New Covenant is sealed with the blood of Christ.

3. The Leaders See God (Exodus 24:9-11)

Verse 9-10:

"Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity."

This is a rare moment where humans see God in some visible form. However, it is not a full vision of God's essence, since Exodus 33:20 says no one can see God and live.

Sapphire pavement: The description of a sapphire-like pavement suggests purity, majesty, and a connection to divine presence. It mirrors the heavenly throne seen in Ezekiel 1:26.

Verse 11:

"But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank."

Despite seeing God, they are not harmed, indicating God's grace. Eating and drinking in His presence symbolize fellowship and peace between God and His people.

4. Moses Ascends Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:12-18)

Verse 12:

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.'"

Here, God calls Moses higher for a greater revelation—the giving of the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. These tablets signify the permanence of God’s law.

Verses 13-14:

"So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, 'Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.'”

Joshua’s role: Joshua is Moses’ assistant and will later become the leader of Israel.
Aaron and Hur: These two are left in charge, but later, Aaron leads the people into idolatry (Exodus 32).

Verses 15-17:

Moses enters the cloud of God's glory, which appears as a consuming fire on the mountain.

This demonstrates both God's holiness and Israel’s fear of His presence. The fire symbolizes God's power and judgment.

Verse 18:

Moses stays on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

This period is significant, representing a time of divine revelation and testing. During this time, Moses receives further instructions, including details about the Tabernacle.

Conclusion

Exodus 24 is one of the most significant chapters in the Bible, as it marks the formal covenant between God and Israel. It includes:

Israel’s pledge to obey God’s laws.
A powerful blood ceremony foreshadowing Christ’s sacrifice.
A rare moment where humans "see" God.
Moses’ ascent into God’s glory for further revelation.

The chapter highlights the seriousness of the covenant, the necessity of obedience, and God's overwhelming majesty. However, it also foreshadows Israel’s failure, showing that humanity ultimately needs a better covenant—fulfilled through Jesus Christ.

BIBLE LIBRARY777

Wednesday, March 26, 2025