Confirming The Covenant (Exodus 24)

How did Israel confirm the old covenant? What did Moses write? What did Moses receive on the mountain? Let’s look at Exodus 24.

Were a select group to go up to the mountain with Moses?

Then He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you all shall worship at a distance. Moses alone, however, shall come near to Yahweh, but they shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him. (Exodus 24:1-2 LSB)

Was Moses capable of writing? Was he brought up in Pharaoh’s court? Analysts say there are many Egyptian loan words in his writings.

Then Moses came and reported to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. (Exodus 24:3-4 NASB)

Did the people agree to obey their covenant with God?

Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” (Exodus 24:5-7 NIV)

Was the covenant confirmed by sprinkling the people with blood?

Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.” (Exodus 24:8 NLT)

What did the elders of Israel experience on the mountain?

Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. He didn’t lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank. (Exodus 24:9-11 WEB)

What did God instruct Moses to do next? What was he to receive?

The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there. I’ll give you the stone tablets with the instructions and the commandments that I’ve written in order to teach them.” (Exodus 24:12 CEB)

Who were to be substitutes during Moses’ absence on the mountain?

Moses and Joshua his assistant got ready, then Moses started up the mountain to meet with God. Moses had told the leaders, “Wait here until we come back. Aaron and Hur will be with you, and they can settle any arguments while we are away.” (Exodus 24:13-14 CEV)

How long was Moses’ absence on the mountain?

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. (Exodus 24:15-18 ESV)

How did Israel confirm the old covenant? What did Moses write? What did Moses receive on the mountain? You decide!