Exodus 24:15

_AND MOSES WENT UP INTO THE MOUNT, AND A CLOUD COVERED THE MOUNT._ Moses went up into the mount. The summit of the mount was covered by a dark cloud, which, with the resplendent glory, the shechinah, in the midst of it, symbolized the divine presence on the summit of the mount, as afterward in the holy of holies. At an elevated spot on the skirts of that mystic cloud Moses remained for the space of six days-a period of trial to his faith, humility, and patience; and had he, under the impulse of a proud, impatient self-will, broken through all restraints, as Saul afterward did (1 Samuel 15:1), he would have betrayed a want of devout, submissive dependence upon God, which would have indicated an unpreparedness for the great work he was chosen to perform. But he remained stedfast, immovable in the attitude of patient waiting until God's time should come; and he was at length

12-18 A cloud covered the mount six days; a token of God's special presence there. Moses was sure that he who called him up would protect him. Even those glorious attributes of God which are most terrible to the wicked, the saints with humble reverence rejoice in. And through faith in the atoning Sacrifice, we hope for greater honour than Moses ever enjoyed on earth. Now we see through a glass darkly, but when he shall appear, then face to face. This vision of God will continue with equal, if not increasing brightness of joy; not for a few days only, but through eternity....

EXPOSITION MOSES' ENTRY INTO THE CLOUD, AND FORTY DAYS' COMMUNE WITH GOD. It was necessary now that Moses should receive full directions for the external worship of God, the sanctuary, and the priesthood. Every religion has something tangible and material about it—holy places, holy things, rites, ceremonies, rules, forms, regulations. If man sets himself to devise these things of his own head, he may very easily go wrong, and find his elaborate inventions "an offence" to God. To avoid this—to secure the result that all should be pleasing and acceptable to "the High and Holy One which inhabiteth eternity," it was thought fitting that "patterns" should be shown to Moses of all that was to be made for the worship ...

AND MOSES WENT UP INTO THE MOUNT,.... To the top of it, and as it seems alone, leaving Joshua behind in a lower part of the mountain: AND A CLOUD COVERED THE MOUNT; in which cloud Jehovah was....

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...

A CLOUD. the cloud....

12 15A (E). The sequel to _vv._3 8. Moses ascends the mount to receive the two tables of stone....

THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 24 And he said unto Mo-ses, Come up unto Je-ho-vah, thou, and Aar-on, Na-dab, and A-bi-hu, and seventy of the elders of Is-ra-el; and worship ye afar off: (2) and Moses alone shall come near unto Je-ho-vah; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go with him. (3) And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Je-ho-vah hath spoken will we do. (4) And Moses wrote all the words of Je-ho-vah, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Is-ra-el. (5) And he sent young men of the children of Is-ra-el, who offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto Je-ho-vah. (6) And Mo-ses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of t...

THE RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT 1. And he said] The first two vv. of this chapter are a continuation of the narrative from Exodus 20:21, which was interrupted by the insertion of the Book of the Covenant, originally a separate document. chapter Exodus 23:33 is continued in Exodus 24:3. NADAB, AND ABIHU] the two oldest sons of Aaron: see Exodus 6:23. SEVENTY OF THE ELDERS] a selection from the heads of the tribes and families: see on Exodus 3:16....