Exodus 24:11

_AND UPON THE NOBLES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HE LAID NOT HIS HAND: ALSO THEY SAW GOD, AND DID EAT AND DRINK._ Upon the nobles of the children of Israel, х_ 'ATSIYLEEY_ (H678)] - deep-rooted: hence, metaphorically, sprung from an ancient and noble stock. LAID NOT HIS HAND. This phrase is used to denote a violent attack with a view to slay (cf. Genesis 22:12). The Septuagint has: kai toon epilektoon tou Israeel ou diefooneesen oude heis, and not one of those picked men of Israel expired (was cut off); and the allusion is to the popular belief that a sudden and direct revelation by God of Himself was followed by death (Genesis 16:13; Genesis 32:

11._And upon the nobles of the children of Israel_. These words, as it seems to me, are violently distorted by those (318) who expound them, that the elders were not made participators of the prophetic gift, or that the virtue of God did not extend to them; for these clauses are to be taken connectedly thus: although they saw God, His hand was not laid upon them but they ate and drank. Hence we may gather that God’s paternal favor towards them is pointed out in that He spared them; for we must bear in mind what is said elsewhere, “There shall no man see my face and live.” (Exodus 33:20.) Thus, amongst the ancients, this was a kind of proverbial expression: We shall die, because we have seen God. So Jacob, in commendation of God’s grace, says, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” ...

9-11 The elders saw the God of Israel; they had some glimpse of his glory, though whatever they saw, it was something of which no image or picture could be made, yet enough to satisfy them that God was with them of a truth. Nothing is described but what was under his feet. The sapphires are the pavement under his feet; let us put all the wealth of this world under our feet, and not in our hearts. Thus the believer sees in the face of Jesus Christ, far clearer discoveries of the glorious justice and holiness of God, than ever he saw under terrifying convictions; and through the Saviour, holds communion with a holy God....

Verse Exodus 24:11. _UPON THE NOBLES OF - ISRAEL HE LAID NOT HIS HAND_] This laying on of the hand has been variously explained. 1. He did not conceal himself from the nobles of Israel by covering them with his hand, as he did Moses, Exodus 33:22. 2. He did not endue any of the nobles, i.e., the _seventy elders_, with the gift of prophecy; for so laying on of the hand has been understood. 3. He did not slay any of them; none of them received any injury; which is certainly one meaning of the phrase: see Nehemiah 13:21; Psalms 55:20. _Also they saw God_, i.e., although they had this discovery of

HE LAID NOT HIS HAND - i. e. He did not strike them. It was believed that a mortal could not survive the sight of God Exodus 33:20; Genesis 32:30; Judges 6:22; Judges 13:22 : but these rulers of Israel were permitted to eat and drink, while they were enjoying in an extraordinary degree the sense of the divine presence, and received no harm....

EXPOSITION THE SACRIFICIAL FEAST AND THE VISION OF GOD. After the covenant had been ratified by the unanimous voice of the people, Moses proceeded to carry out the injunctions with respect to Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the elders, which he had received while still in the mount (see the comment on Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:2). Taking them with him, he ascended Sinai once more to a certain height, but clearly not to the summit, which he alone was privileged to visit (Exodus 24:2 and Exodus 24:12). The object

AND UPON THE NOBLES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HE LAID NOT HIS HAND,.... Which some interpret of his hand of prophecy, and of the measure of the Spirit, such an one as Moses had, and by virtue of which he lived forty days and nights without eating and drinking; but these not having such a measure of the Spirit, were obliged to eat and drink to support nature, as in the next clause: but it is rather to be understood of the hand of God; he did not inflict any disease or death upon them on their sight of him, it being a notion that no man could see God and live; but these men did live, not only Moses, and Aaron and his two sons, but the seventy elders, who were the principal choicest persons among the children of Israel; wherefore the Targum of Jonathan wrongly restrains this to Nadab and Abihu: ALSO THEY SAW GOD, AND DID EAT AND DRINK: though they saw God, they continued alive and well, an...

EAT AND DRINK Symbol of communion. Compare (Luke 22:15). A blood-sprinkled people, see (Hebrews 9:19) who had not yet broken the law could thus commune with God. Never again was this repeated. Compare (Exodus 24:9) with (Leviticus 16:2) and (Hebrews 9:6). But compare, under grace, (Ephesians 2:13); (Hebrews 10:19); ...

CHAPTER 24 THE RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT AND THE GLORY OF JEHOVAH _ 1. Moses called into Jehovah's presence (Exodus 24:1)_ 2. The covenant ratified and the sprinkling with blood (Exodus 24:3) 3. in the presence of God and Jehovah's glory (Exodus 24:9) This chapter is a fitting conclusion of this second section of the second part. It begins with the giving of the law and ends with the glory of the Lord. Moses alone was to come near to Jehovah; Aaron, Nadab and Abihu with the seventy elders of Israel, had to worship afar. Moses is a type of Christ in his exclusive privilege and attitude. Twice the people make the promise to keep the covenant, not realizing what they were doing. Then the blood was

EXODUS 24. VISION AND COVENANT. Exodus 24:1 f. J, Exodus 24:3 E, Exodus 24:9 J, Exodus 24:12 a E, Exodus 24:15 b - Exodus 24:18 a P, Exodus 24:18 b E. Taking the J elements first, it must be noted that they must have followed the giving of the code now transposed to Exodus 34:17 (see...