Exodus 24:7

_AND HE TOOK THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT, AND READ IN THE AUDIENCE OF THE PEOPLE: AND THEY SAID, ALL THAT THE LORD HATH SAID WILL WE DO, AND BE OBEDIENT._ He took the book of the covenant - namely, the writing in which, as stated in Exodus 24:4, were inscribed the conditions of the national covenant as embodied in the words and laws of God (see the notes at Deuteronomy 4:13). AND READ IN THE AUDIENCE OF THE PEOPLE - probably first to the elders or representatives, by whom it was rehearsed to the various sections of the people in succession. THEY SAID, ALL THAT THE LORD HATH SAID WILL WE DO, AND BE OBEDIENT. Since the law is termed a covenant, into which the Israelites were on their part to enter voluntarily and with self-consciousness, an express declaration to

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 24:7. _THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT_] The writing containing the laws mentioned in the three preceding chapters. As this writing contained the agreement made between God and them, it was called the _book of the covenant_; but as no covenant was considered to be ratified and _binding_ till a sacrifice had been offered on the occasion, hence the necessity of the sacrifices mentioned here. _Half of the blood being sprinkled on the_ ALTAR, and _half of it_ _sprinkled on the_ PEOPLE, showed that both GOD and THEY were mutually bound by this covenant. GOD was bound to the PEOPLE to support, defend, and save them; the PEOPLE were bound to GOD to fear, love, and serve him. On the ancient method of making covenants, Genesis 6:18,...

THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT - See Exodus 20:22 note. The people had to repeat their assent to the book of the covenant before the blood was thrown upon them. Compare 2 Kings 23:2, 2 Kings 23:21; 2 Chronicles 34:30....

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 HE TOOK THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT,.... Which contained the words of the Lord he is said to write, Exodus 24:4, and consisted both of laws and judgments required of the people, and to which they had given their assent, and promised obedience to; and of promises made by the Lord of sending his angel before them to guide them in the way, and bring them to Canaan, and to drive the Canaanites from thence, and put the Israelites into the possession of it; so that here were promises on both sides, a restipulation of parties, which made a formal covenant: AND READ IN THE AUDIENCE OF THE PEOPLE; he had rehearsed what was contained in it from his memory, by word of mouth, to which they had assented, Exodus 24:3 and having written the same in a book, he read it to them distinctly, that they might the be

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

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...

BE OBEDIENT. Connect this with the sprinkling-of the blood in next verse; and connect both with 1 Peter 1:2....