Exo 24.1-18 tells us about the ratification of the covenant; Moses, Aaron and the elders meet with Yehovah and eat a meal consecrated to God; Moses goes up to God to receive the tablets of the Ten Commandments.
v 1…Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel (including Joshua-v 12; to represent the people), and you shall worship at a distance (from the summit).
v 2…Moses alone, however, shall come near to the Lord, but they shall not come near (within the cloud), nor shall the people come up with him.”
v 3…Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the ordinances (contained in the two previous chapters containing judgments and judicial laws) of the Lord, and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do (they agreed to the covenant).”
v 4…And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord (in a book). Then he arose early in the morning (Sivan 8), and built an altar at the foot (Hebrew “tachat” or under) of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel (who accepted the covenant)..
v 5…And he sent young men (probably selected first-born) of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings (Korban Olot) and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings (Korban Shelemim) to the Lord.
v 6…And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins (to sprinkle on the people), and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar (symbolizing God to ratify the covenant).
v 7…Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
v 8…So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, “Behold, the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words (notice these words are written, no oral laws).”
v 9…And Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel,
v 10…and they saw the God of Israel (to verify that it was indeed a divine person, Yehovah, who has been speaking with Moses and delivering these laws), and under his feet there appeared (which shows there was a visible, human form) to be a pavement (where Yehovah stood), like heaven itself (clear blue sky and serene; no clouds meaning good will and favor-Rev 4.6; this is a Ma’aseh Merkavah or “work of the throne/chariot” as in Ezek 1, 3, 10 and Exo 20).
v 11…And he did not stretch out his hand against the nobles (Hebrew “corner pegs”; Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders) of the sons of Israel; and they beheld God (in some form or vision, a faint resemblance-Exo 33.20; John 1.18; 1 Tim 6.16; Num 12.8; like Ezekiel in Ezek 1.26) and they ate and drank (with flesh from the olot and the shelemim offerings; a meal consecrated to God; a Lord’s Supper; this formed part of the ratification ceremony).
v 12…Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain (to the summit within the cloud; Joshua remained further back) and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments which I have written for their instruction.”
v 13…So Moses arose with Joshua (Hoshea) his servant (his assistant who helped in battle and spiritual things), and Moses went up to the mountain of God.
v 14…But to the elders he said, “Wait here for us (Moses and Joshua at the lower part of the mountain) until we return to you. And behold (see for yourself), Aaron and Hur are with you (Moses had reason to believe they could supervise the camp because of Exo 17.10-13; but they will not do a very good job); whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them.”
v 15…Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
v 16…And the glory (kivod, radiance) of the Lord rested (Hebrew “shkan” meaning dwelt and used later for the “shekinah” or an outward manifestation of his presence) on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days (alludes to the 6000 years of the Olam ha Zeh); and on the seventh day (alluding to the Day of the Lord) he called to Moses (alludes to the Natzal after 6000 years) from the midst of the cloud.
v 17…And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory (kivod) of the Lord (Yehovah) was like a consuming fire (a blazing, devouring fire above the cloud) on the mountain top.
v 18…And Moses entered the midst of the cloud (what seemed a harsh environment to the others, was a safe environment for Moses because God said he could draw near) as he went up to the mountain (a sixth time; there will be eight total); and Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights (the number of testing, similar to Yeshua in Matt 4.1-2).
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