Study notes

Exodus 24

Introducing ExodusWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

19:1–31:18 Section

God made a covenant with the Israelites on Mount Sinai. It was called the Mount Sinai covenant.

In it, he showed himself to be their Lord and King. The Israelites were the people he ruled over. They were to serve him in the ways he explained in the covenant.

God explained these ways clearly in the Ten Commandments. He also explained many other rules they were to obey. These rules taught the Israelites how to live together after being freed from slavery. The rules also taught them how to worship only God.

The rules included instructions about priests, the holy tent and sacrifices. All together these rules were called the Law of Moses.

God spoke with Moses from the thick cloud that covered Mount Sinai. The people heard God speak. They were very afraid of God. So Moses was the go-between between God and the people.

The Israelites agreed to be faithful to God’s covenant. If they served God faithfully, God promised to do many things for them. He would make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. In this way they would show all other people groups the truth about who God is.

The Israelites sacrificed animals to God. Moses sprinkled the people with the blood of animals. Then the leaders of the people ate a meal before God. God gave Moses a written copy of the covenant on stone tablets. All of these actions were part of putting the covenant into effect.

24:1–2

Some commentators suggest that Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the elders made two trips up the mountain, here and in 24:9–11. However, this command was probably given in advance and obeyed at the proper time in 24:9.

24:1–18

Israel agreed to the terms of the covenant (24:3). The covenant was then confirmed through several ceremonies:

First, the covenant was written down and read aloud to the people (24:4, 7).
Then blood was sprinkled as part of the ceremony (24:6).
The leaders also shared a covenant meal in God’s presence (24:11).
Finally, the glory of the Lord appeared on the mountain (24:15–18).

24:3

came: At this important moment, the people had to make a choice. Would they accept this relationship with God? Would they promise full loyalty to him and agree to live in ways that reflect his character?

They answered together, with one voice, that they would obey the covenant.

24:4

Pillars were set up as memorial stones. They showed that something important had happened at that place and time.

In Hittite treaties, people called on their pagan gods to witness the agreement. The gods were believed to see and confirm the treaty.

However, the Hebrews were not allowed to recognize other gods. Instead of calling on false gods as witnesses, they used stone pillars to mark the agreement.

24:6

When Moses sprinkled half of the sacrificial animals' blood on the altar, he symbolized God's formal oath to keep his covenant (see Genesis 15:9–18; Hebrews 6:13).

24:7

People were required to write down treaties and read them aloud in public. It is very likely that Moses began at this time to write down, under God’s inspiration, all the things that he believed were authoritative documents for his people.

24:8

This is the blood of the covenant: Jesus repeated this phrase almost word for word at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:28). See also Hebrews 9:20.

24:10

they saw the God: We must understand this statement in connection with 33:20. In that verse, the Lord says that no one can see him fully and live.

So they did not see God in his full being. They saw some visible form that represented him. The text only describes what was under his feet.

When Isaiah saw the Lord, the only detail given was the edge of his robe (Isaiah 6:1).