The Law · Chapter 24 of 40

Exodus 24

At Sinai the covenant is sealed. Moses tells the people God's words, and they answer with one voice that they will obey. He builds an altar with twelve pillars, offers sacrifices, and sprinkles the blood of the covenant on the people. Then Moses, Aaron, and seventy elders see the God of Israel and eat before him. Moses climbs into the cloud for forty days.

What happens in Exodus 24

Moses relays all the LORD's words and judgments, and the people promise obedience. He writes them down, rises early, and builds an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes. Young men offer burnt offerings and peace offerings of oxen. Moses takes half the blood and sprinkles it on the altar, then reads the book of the covenant aloud. The people again vow to obey. He sprinkles the rest of the blood on them, calling it the blood of the covenant.

Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders go up and see the God of Israel, with sapphire pavement beneath his feet, and they eat and drink unharmed. The LORD calls Moses higher to receive tables of stone. Leaving Aaron and Hur in charge, Moses ascends. The cloud covers the mount six days, and on the seventh God calls him into the fire and cloud for forty days and nights.

Exodus 24 in context

Exodus 24 stands at the hinge of the book. Chapters 20 to 23 gave the law at Sinai; now that law is ratified in a formal covenant ceremony before God builds his dwelling. This blood ritual binds Israel to the LORD as his people.

Immediately after, chapters 25 onward turn to the tabernacle, the tent where the covenant God will live among them. The elders' meal in God's presence is a rare, astonishing glimpse of fellowship with the holy.

Main themes of Exodus 24

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.

Verses to carry from Exodus 24

“And 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.”Exodus 24:7

“And 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.”Exodus 24:8

“And 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.”Exodus 24:17

Reflection

You cannot make yourself acceptable to God by promising harder. Israel meant every vow and still failed within weeks. Rest instead in the blood already given for you. The One who kept the covenant perfectly invites you, like the elders, to eat in his presence and not be afraid. Come near through what Christ has done.

A prayer from Exodus 24