Exodus 24

1 Then the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] said to Moses [the Israelite leader, mediator of the covenant], “Come up [ascend, go up] to the LORD [the sovereign God]—you and Aaron [the high priest], Nadab and Abihu [Aaron’s sons, priestly figures], and seventy of Israel’s [God’s chosen people] elders [respected leaders, sheikhs]—and you are to worship [bow down, prostrate yourselves] at a distance [from a far-off place, in reverence]. word study 2 Moses [the Israelite leader, alone and apart] alone shall approach [draw near, come to worship] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], but the others [they, a group of men] must not come near [draw near, approach]. And the people [a nation, a group of individuals] may not go up [ascend, rise] with him [together, in his company].” word study 3 When Moses [the Israelite leader] came and told the people all the words [commands, teachings] and ordinances [judgments, laws] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], they all responded with one voice [united, in agreement]: “All the words [things, matters] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] has spoken [commanded, declared], we will do [obey, fulfill].” word study 4 And Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] wrote down [recorded, inscribed] all the words [commands, teachings, chronicles] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. Early the next morning he got up [started early] and built [constructed, established] an altar [a place of sacrifice, worship] at the base [underneath, at the foot] of the mountain [a hill], along with twelve [two times six] pillars [monuments, memorials] for the twelve tribes [clans, families] of Israel [God’s chosen people, a nation set apart]. word study 5 Then he sent out some young men [youths, young Israelite men] of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings [holocausts, sacrifices totally consumed by fire] and sacrificed young bulls [calves, oxen, bullocks] as peace offerings [sacrifices of peace, to show thanks and fellowship] to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 6 Moses [the Israelite leader] took half [a division, a part] of the blood [the liquid essential for life] and put it in bowls [vessels, basins], and the other half [the remaining part] he sprinkled [scattered, poured] on the altar [a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God]. word study 7 Then he took the Book [scroll, written document] of the Covenant [agreement, promise] and read it to the people [nation, community], who replied, “All [everything, every word] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] has spoken [commanded, declared] we will do [obey, fulfill], and we will be obedient [listen, heed].” word study 8 So Moses [the leader of the Israelites] took the blood [the liquid that flows through the body], sprinkled it on the people [as a sign of their commitment], and said, “This is the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] of the covenant [a promise or agreement between God and His people] that the LORD [Yehovah, the personal name of God] has made with you [establishing a relationship] in accordance with all these words [the terms of the agreement].” word study 9 Then Moses [the Israelite leader] went up [ascended, climbed the mountain] with Aaron [the first high priest], Nadab [the son of Aaron] and Abihu [the priest who made a mistake], and seventy of the elders [old, experienced leaders] of Israel [God’s chosen people], word study 10 and they saw [beheld, perceived] the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]. Under His feet [as a footstool] was a work [deed, action] like a pavement [tiled floor, brickwork] made of sapphire [a precious gemstone, lapis lazuli], as clear [transparent, pure] as the sky [heaven, the visible universe] itself [in its purest state, without clouds]. word study 11 But God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] did not lay His hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] on the nobles [chiefs or leaders] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]; they saw [beheld, perceived] Him, and they ate [partook, feasted] and drank [celebrated, communed]. word study 12 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Come up [ascend, go up] to Me on the mountain [a hill] and stay [remain, be present] here, so that I may give [bestow, impart] you the tablets [polished stone or wood slabs] of stone [a rock, a weight], with the law [instruction, guidance] and commandments [divine rules, precepts] I have written [inscribed, recorded] for their instruction [to teach, guide].” word study 13 So Moses [rose up, to stand and take action] set out with Joshua [his minister, servant, and attendant] his attendant and went up [to ascend, to climb] on the mountain [a high place] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. word study 14 And he said to the elders [older, more experienced leaders], “Wait [tarry, remain] here for us until we return [turn back, come again] to you. Aaron [the high priest, Moses’ brother] and Hur [a chief assistant] are here with you [in your presence, among you]. Whoever [any man, anyone who] has a dispute [a cause, a matter to settle] can go [come near, approach] to them [for guidance, for judgment].” word study 15 When Moses [the Israelite leader] went up [to ascend, to rise] on the mountain [a hill], the cloud covered [to hide from view, to envelop] it [the mountain, a place of divine encounter], word study 16 and the glory [great honor, splendor] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] settled [to dwell, tabernacle] on Mount [a hill] Sinai [the mountain where Moses received the Law]. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called [to summon, invite] to Moses [the Israelite leader] from within [from the midst, the center] the cloud. word study 17 And the sight [appearance, vision] of the glory [great honor, splendor] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] was like [resembling, similar to] a consuming [devouring, eating] fire [burning, flame] on the mountaintop [the top of the mountain, a spiritual high point] in the eyes [the source, the gaze] of the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 18 Moses [the Israelite leader, mediator] entered [went into the midst of] the cloud as he went up [ascended, rose] on the mountain [a hill], and he remained [stayed, dwelt] on the mountain [the mountain of God] forty [a significant period of time, a span of testing] days [a period of light, a time of spiritual growth] and forty [a season of refinement, a time of trial] nights [a time of darkness, a period of trust]. word study