Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

24:1-2 The distinctions explained in relation to the Lord's presence on Mount Sinai are preparing Israel for the tabernacle. The three groups of people represent three different levels of proximity to the Lord's presence: (1) the people shall not come up (v. 2); (2) Moses, Aaron and his sons, and the elders will worship from afar (v. 1); and (3) Moses alone shall come near to the Lord (v. 2).

24:4 This is one of three references in Exodus to Moses writing (also 34:28) or being commanded to write (17:14; see also Deut. 31:9).

24:5 The narrative of Exodus has already referred to burnt offerings (10:25; 18:12) and peace offerings (20:24), but the Lord had not yet prescribed their practice or described their function for Israel. While Israel likely had some familiarity with the function of sacrifice, the people manifest their need for the Lord's further instructions when they offer burnt offerings and peace offerings to the golden calf (see 32:6).

24:6-8 The reasons for the covenant-confirming actions of blood thrown against the altar (v. 6) and on the people (v. 8) are not made explicit, but they probably signify the cleansing and atonement aspects of each. The blood links the altar and the people, symbolizing the union of God and Israel in the covenant. The Lord had called Israel to keep his covenant as the means to serving as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (19:4-6), and here he anoints and inaugurates them to live as such (see Heb. 9:18-22).

24:7 The Book of the Covenant most likely refers to both the Ten Commandments (20:1-21) and the commands and rules that follow (20:22-23:33).

24:8 the blood of the covenant. When Jesus uses this phrase of the cup in the Last Supper (Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24), he is likening the Christian communion meal to the OT peace offering (see note on Ex. 24:9-11; cf. also 1 Cor. 10:17-18).

24:9-11 Moses, Aaron and his sons, and 70 of the elders partake in what the peace offering (v. 5) signifies: fellowship and communion in the presence of God. The description focuses on the fact that the men saw the God of Israel (vv. 9-11) and remained unharmed. According to 33:20 "man shall not see me and live," so the "seeing" here in 24:10 was something different from that of 33:20; cf. 33:23, which perhaps denotes a partial, as opposed to a full and complete, vision of God (see notes on Matt. 5:8; John 1:18; Rev. 22:4). The description of the clear surface they saw under his feet may indicate that this is all they saw of God.

24:13-14 This is the first time Joshua is referred to as Moses' assistant (also 33:11; Josh. 1:1). Hur helped Aaron hold up Moses' hands during the battle with Amalek (Ex. 17:10-12).

24:17-18 like a devouring fire. God's presence is often signified in Exodus by fire (see also 3:2; 13:21-22; 19:18; 40:38; cf. Deut. 4:24; 9:3). Moses enters the cloud as the one with whom the Lord has chosen to meet, and therefore he is not destroyed (see Ex. 24:9-11).