Exodus 24:17

_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._ The sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire. Though it had such an appearance to the spectators in the plain, Moses sojourned near to it, during a prolonged stay on the mount, without being injured; but he went there in the character of mediator (cf. Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:11; Hebrews 10:24), and he might have been miraculously protected as well as sustained. In

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....

Verse Exodus 24:17. _THE GLORY OF THE LORD_ WAS _LIKE DEVOURING FIRE_] This appearance was well calculated to inspire the people with the deepest reverence and godly rear; and this is the use the apostle makes or it, Hebrews 12:28, where he evidently refers to this place, saying, _Let us have grace whereby we may serve God_ _acceptably with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a_ CONSUMING FIRE. Seeing the glory of the Lord upon the mount like a devouring fire, Moses having tarried long, the Israelites probably supposed that he had been devoured or consumed by it, and therefore the more easily fell into idolatry. But how could they do this, with this tremendous sight of God's glory before their eyes?...

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 THE SIGHT OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD WAS LIKE DEVOURING FIRE ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNT,.... For when God spoke out of the cloud, the glory of the Lord flashed out like devouring fire; it was not devouring fire, but it was like it; it was like a great blaze of fire, which consumes all that is in its ways; it was such a large body of light, and so clear and bright, that it looked like devouring flames of fire; and being upon the top of the mount was very visible, and seen at a great distance in the eyes of the children of Israel throughout, their camp....

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...

15B 18A (P). Moses is summoned up into the cloud on the top of the mount. The verses are P's parallel to the narrative of JE in ch. 19. 15B. The sequel in P to Exodus 19:1-2 a. _the cloud_ the one which in P regularly enshrouds the -glory" of Jehovah (cf. on the tabernacle, Exodus 40:34 f.; and the note on Exodus 13:21-22, at the end). Here it covers the mount, immediately upon Israel's arrival at Sinai: contrast Exodus 19:16. 16. _the glory of_ JEHOVAH] see on Exodus 16:10. _abode_ or...

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....