Tyndale Open Study NotesExodus 24

Israel agreed to the terms of the covenant (24:3). The covenant was then confirmed through several ceremonies:

• First, the covenant was written down and read aloud to the people (24:4, 7).

• Then blood was sprinkled as part of the ceremony (24:6).

• The leaders also shared a covenant meal in God’s presence (24:11).

• Finally, the glory of the Lord appeared on the mountain (24:15–18).

Some commentators suggest that Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the elders made two trips up the mountain, here and in 24:9–11. However, this command was probably given in advance and obeyed at the proper time in 24:9.

came: At this important moment, the people had to make a choice. Would they accept this relationship with God? Would they promise full loyalty to him and agree to live in ways that reflect his character?

They answered together, with one voice, that they would obey the covenant.

Pillars were set up as memorial stones. They showed that something important had happened at that place and time.

In Hittite treaties, people called on their pagan gods to witness the agreement. The gods were believed to see and confirm the treaty.

However, the Hebrews were not allowed to recognize other gods. Instead of calling on false gods as witnesses, they used stone pillars to mark the agreement.

When Moses sprinkled half of the sacrificial animals' blood on the altar, he symbolized God's formal oath to keep his covenant (see Genesis 15:9–18; Hebrews 6:13).

People were required to write down treaties and read them aloud in public. It is very likely that Moses began at this time to write down, under God’s inspiration, all the things that he believed were authoritative documents for his people.

This is the blood of the covenant: Jesus repeated this phrase almost word for word at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:28). See also Hebrews 9:20.

they saw the God: We must understand this statement in connection with 33:20. In that verse, the Lord says that no one can see him fully and live.

So they did not see God in his full being. They saw some visible form that represented him. The text only describes what was under his feet.

When Isaiah saw the Lord, the only detail given was the edge of his robe (Isaiah 6:1).

In places around the world, eating a meal together often indicates peace and good relationships. This is true both in the past and today.

The law and commandments that God inscribed on the tablets of stone were the ten basic principles from 20:3–17 (see 34:28). The specific rules in 21:1–23:33 depended on these principles.

consuming fire: See 3:2 and the study note.