Exodus 24:18

_AND MOSES WENT INTO THE MIDST OF THE CLOUD, AND GAT HIM UP INTO THE MOUNT: AND MOSES WAS IN THE MOUNT FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS._ Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount. The Hebrew legislator remained all the time he was occupied in compiling the law in that sublime elevation, which has ever since been called from him the 'mountain of Moses' (Jebel M-sa). The peak is scarcely 30 paces in compass. Whether Joshua was permitted to enter the cloud, and go up the mount along with him, is not said. The prevalent opinion is, that he continued on the spot where Moses and he tarried during the preparatory days of trial, and consequently was the first to salute Moses on his return (Exodus 32:17). But many of the fathers were of opinion that Joshua was allowed to attend Moses as his assistant (Pearson 'On the Creed,' Art. 2:); and some of them,

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 24:18. _FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS._] During the whole of this time he neither ate bread nor drank water; see Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9. Both his body and soul were so sustained by the invigorating presence of God, that he needed no earthly support, and this may be the simple reason why he took none. Elijah fasted _forty_ days and _forty_ nights, sustained by the same influence, 1 Kings 19:8; as did likewise our blessed Lord, when he was about to commence the public ministry of his own Gospel, Matthew 4:2....

During this period of forty days, and the second period when the tables were renewed, Moses neither ate bread nor drank water. Compare marginal references. In like manner, Elijah fasted for forty days, when he visited the same spot 1 Kings 19:8. The two who met our Saviour on the Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17:3, the one representing the law, the other representing the Prophets, thus shadowed forth in their own experience the Fast of Forty days in the wilderness of Judaea....

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 INTO THE MIDST OF THE CLOUD,.... Where the glory of God was, and he must at this time be endowed with more than ordinary courage to enter into it, when the glory of the Lord flashed out of it like flames of fire; yet being called of God he was not intimidated, but with great serenity and composure of mind, as may be thought, he went into the presence chamber of the most High, to hear what he had to say unto him: AND GAT HIM UP INTO THE MOUNT; that is, he went into the cloud, after he had ascended the summit of the mount; for it cannot be supposed that he first went into the cloud, and then got himself up to the mount, which yet our version, if not carefully guarded against, may lead unto: AND MOSES WAS IN THE MOUNT FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS; without eating or drinking; and just such a term of time Christ fasted in the wilderness; it is probable that the six days before...

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...

WENT INTO. On 20-25th and 26th of Sever: The fourth Sabbath....

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...