Exodus 24:4

_AND MOSES WROTE ALL THE WORDS OF THE LORD, AND ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND BUILDED AN ALTAR UNDER THE HILL, AND TWELVE PILLARS, ACCORDING TO THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL._ Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. It is not said where he wrote them, the public register having been mentioned already (Exodus 17:14), in which it seems that, by the special appointment of God, all incidents of public interest or sacred importance, especially His marvelous interpositions, and the revelations of His will and worship, were recorded. The next day preparations were made for having it solemnly ratified, by building an altar and twelve pillars; the altar representing God, and the pillars the tribes of Israel-the two parties in this solemn compact-while Moses acted as typical mediator. The altar was erected х_ TACHAT_ (H8478)...

4._And Moses _(308) _wrote all the words of the Lord_. This parenthesis is opportunely inserted; for we shall see a little further on that the book was read before the people; but, in order to awaken greater attention, before the reading he built an altar and offered victims in the sight of all the people. Moreover, it must be observed that statues (309) were erected near the altar according to the number of the tribes, that they might know that they were not kept afar off in token of rejection, but only that, conscious of their own unworthiness, they might humble themselves before God in fear and trembling; for, though they were removed to a considerable distance, still they were remembered before God, and thus He embraced them all, as it were, by means of these statues. What Moses, however, calls by this name, were not images bearing the shape of a man, but heaps of s

1-8 A solemn covenant was made between God and Israel. Very solemn it was, typifying the covenant of grace between God and believers, through Christ. As soon as God separated to himself a peculiar people, he governed them by a written word, as he has done ever since. God's covenants and commands are so just in themselves, and so much for our good, that the more we think of them, and the more plainly and fully they are set before us, the more reason we may see to comply with them. The blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on the altar, on the book, and on the people. Neither their persons, their moral obedience, nor religious services, would meet with acceptance from a holy God, except through the shedding and sprinkling' of blood. Also the blessings granted unto them were all of mercy; and the Lord would deal with them in kindness. Thus the sinner, by faith in the blood of Christ, renders...

Verse Exodus 24:4. _MOSES WROTE ALL THE WORDS OF THE LORD_] After the people had promised obedience, (Exodus 24:3), and so entered into the bonds of the covenant, "it was necessary," says Calmet, "to draw up an _act_ by which the memory of these transactions might be preserved, and confirm the covenant by authentic and solemn ceremonies." And this Moses does. 1. As _legislator_, he reduces to writing all the articles and conditions of the agreement, with the people's act of consent. 2. As their _mediator_ and the _deputy_ of the Lord, he accepts on his part the resolution of the people; and Jehovah on his part engages himself to Israel, to be their God, their King, and Protector, and to fulfil to them all the promises he had made to their fathers. 3. To make thi

TWELVE PILLARS - As the altar was a symbol of the presence of Yahweh, so these twelve pillars represented the presence of the Twelve tribes with whom He was making the covenant....

COMPLETION OF THE COVENANT, AND ASCENT OF MOSES INTO THE CLOUD ON SINAI. EXPOSITION THE RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT. The giving of the Book of the Covenant being now completed, Moses, having received directions with respect to another ascent into the mount (Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:2), descended to the people, and in the first instance declared to them the main heads of the Covenant, which they received with favour, and expressed their willingness to obey ...

AND MOSES WROTE ALL THE WORDS OF THE LORD,.... Jarchi says, all from the creation, to the giving of the law, and the commands at Marah; but though these were written by him, yet not at this time; but as Aben Ezra more truly observes, what are mentioned in this "parashah", or section, or what is contained in the two preceding Chapter s, he not only related to them from his memory, but he wrote them in a book, which is after mentioned, that they might be seen and read hereafter; for these were not the ten commands, they were written as well as spoken by the Lord himself, but the judicial laws before mentioned: AND ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING: not on the fifth of Sivan, as Jarchi, the day before the giving of the law, but on the eighth of that month, two days after it: AND BUILT AN ALTAR UNDER THE HILL: under Mount Sinai, about the place where the bounds were set, beyond which the people...

Exodus 24:1. _And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him._ Nearer to God than the people were allowed to come, but still at a distance from him. It was a covenant of distance, bounds were set about the mount lest the people should come too near. Yet they were near unto God as compared with the heathen, but far off as compared with those who now, by the teaching of the Spirit of God, have been brought near to God through the precious blood of Jesus. Moses alone could come near to Jehovah on mount Sinai, the people could not go up with him, nor even with the man who was their mediator with God, for such Moses was; but you and I, beloved, can go up with him who is far greater

BUILDED Compare (Exodus 33:7). This arrangement for worship was temporarily called the "tabernacle....

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