A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Exodus 24
Exodus 24 is the twenty-fourth chapter of the book of Exodus and the chapter in which the covenant given through Moses is formally ratified. The 18-verse chapter contains the people's twofold pledge of obedience, the sprinkled blood of the covenant, the famous scene of the elders seeing the God of Israel, and Moses's ascent into the cloud for forty days.
The chapter opens with the LORD telling Moses to come up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders, and to worship at a distance. Only Moses is to approach the LORD; the others are not to come near.
Moses comes and tells the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD. They respond with one voice: "All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do."
Moses writes down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he builds an altar at the base of the mountain and sets up twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. He sends young men of Israel to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. He takes half the blood and puts it in bowls; the other half he splashes against the altar.
He then takes the Book of the Covenant and reads it to the people. They answer, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." Moses takes the blood from the bowls, splashes it on the people, and says, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."
Moses then goes up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. They see the God of Israel. Under his feet is a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. The chapter then records the quiet line that has carried weight ever since: "God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank."
The LORD then calls Moses up further: "Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction." Moses sets out with Joshua his attendant, leaving Aaron and Hur in charge with the elders.
The cloud covers the mountain, and the glory of the LORD settles on it. For six days the cloud covers it. On the seventh day the LORD calls to Moses from within the cloud. To the eyes of the Israelites below, the sight of the glory of the LORD looks like a consuming fire on the mountaintop. Moses enters the cloud as he goes up. He remains on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Verse 1. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.
Verse 2. Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”
Verse 3. When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”
Verse 4. And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Verse 5. Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.
Verse 6. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splattered on the altar.
Verse 7. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
Verse 8. So Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Verse 9. Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
Verse 10. and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
Verse 11. But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.
Verse 12. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
Verse 13. So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God.
Verse 14. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Whoever has a dispute can go to them.”
Verse 15. When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it,
Verse 16. and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.
Verse 17. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites.
Verse 18. Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
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