3 And Moses H4872 came H935 and told H5608 the people H5971 all the words H1697 of the LORD, H3068 and all the judgments: H4941 and all the people H5971 answered H6030 with one H259 voice, H6963 and said, H559 All the words H1697 which the LORD H3068 hath said H1696 will we do. H6213
And all the people H5971 answered H6030 together, H3162 and said, H559 All that the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 we will do. H6213 And Moses H4872 returned H7725 the words H1697 of the people H5971 unto the LORD. H3068
And he took H3947 the book H5612 of the covenant, H1285 and read H7121 in the audience H241 of the people: H5971 and they said, H559 All that the LORD H3068 hath said H1696 will we do, H6213 and be obedient. H8085
Now these are the judgments H4941 which thou shalt set H7760 before H6440 them. If thou buy H7069 an Hebrew H5680 servant, H5650 six H8337 years H8141 he shall serve: H5647 and in the seventh H7637 he shall go out H3318 free H2670 for nothing. H2600 If he came in H935 by himself, H1610 he shall go out H3318 by himself: H1610 if he were married, H1167 H802 then his wife H802 shall go out H3318 with him. If his master H113 have given H5414 him a wife, H802 and she have born H3205 him sons H1121 or daughters; H1323 the wife H802 and her children H3206 shall be her master's, H113 and he shall go out H3318 by himself. H1610 And if the servant H5650 shall plainly H559 say, H559 I love H157 my master, H113 my wife, H802 and my children; H1121 I will not go out H3318 free: H2670 Then his master H113 shall bring H5066 him unto the judges; H430 he shall also bring H5066 him to the door, H1817 or unto the door post; H4201 and his master H113 shall bore H7527 his ear H241 through with an aul; H4836 and he shall serve H5647 him for ever. H5769 And if a man H376 sell H4376 his daughter H1323 to be a maidservant, H519 she shall not go out H3318 as the menservants H5650 do. H3318 If she please H7451 H5869 not her master, H113 who hath betrothed H3259 her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: H6299 to sell H4376 her unto a strange H5237 nation H5971 he shall have no power, H4910 seeing he hath dealt deceitfully H898 with her. And if he have betrothed H3259 her unto his son, H1121 he shall deal H6213 with her after the manner H4941 of daughters. H1323 If he take H3947 him another H312 wife; her food, H7607 her raiment, H3682 and her duty of marriage, H5772 shall he not diminish. H1639 And if he do H6213 not these three H7969 unto her, then shall she go out H3318 free H2600 without money. H3701 He that smiteth H5221 a man, H376 so that he die, H4191 shall be surely H4191 put to death. H4191 And if a man lie not in wait, H6658 but God H430 deliver H579 him into his hand; H3027 then I will appoint H7760 thee a place H4725 whither he shall flee. H5127 But if a man H376 come presumptuously H2102 upon his neighbour, H7453 to slay H2026 him with guile; H6195 thou shalt take H3947 him from mine altar, H4196 that he may die. H4191 And he that smiteth H5221 his father, H1 or his mother, H517 shall be surely H4191 put to death. H4191 And he that stealeth H1589 a man, H376 and selleth H4376 him, or if he be found H4672 in his hand, H3027 he shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191 And he that curseth H7043 his father, H1 or his mother, H517 shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191 And if men H582 strive H7378 together, and one H376 smite H5221 another H7453 with a stone, H68 or H176 with his fist, H106 and he die H4191 not, but keepeth H5307 his bed: H4904 If he rise again, H6965 and walk H1980 abroad H2351 upon his staff, H4938 then shall he that smote H5221 him be quit: H5352 only he shall pay H5414 for the loss of his time, H7674 and shall cause him to be thoroughly H7495 healed. H7495 And if a man H376 smite H5221 his servant, H5650 or his maid, H519 with a rod, H7626 and he die H4191 under his hand; H3027 he shall be surely H5358 punished. H5358 Notwithstanding, H389 if he continue H5975 a day H3117 or two, H8147 he shall not be punished: H5358 for he is his money. H3701 If men H582 strive, H5327 and hurt H5062 a woman H802 with child, H2030 so that her fruit H3206 depart H3318 from her, and yet no mischief follow: H611 he shall be surely H6064 punished, H6064 according as the woman's H802 husband H1167 will lay H7896 upon him; and he shall pay H5414 as the judges H6414 determine. And if any mischief follow, H611 then thou shalt give H5414 life H5315 for life, H5315
Now therefore hearken, H8085 O Israel, H3478 unto the statutes H2706 and unto the judgments, H4941 which I teach H3925 you, for to do H6213 them, that ye may live, H2421 and go in H935 and possess H3423 the land H776 which the LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers H1 giveth H5414 you.
And Moses H4872 called H7121 all Israel, H3478 and said H559 unto them, Hear, H8085 O Israel, H3478 the statutes H2706 and judgments H4941 which I speak H1696 in your ears H241 this day, H3117 that ye may learn H3925 them, and keep, H8104 and do H6213 them.
Go thou near, H7126 and hear H8085 all that the LORD H3068 our God H430 shall say: H559 and speak H1696 thou unto us all that the LORD H3068 our God H430 shall speak H1696 unto thee; and we will hear H8085 it, and do H6213 it. And the LORD H3068 heard H8085 the voice H6963 of your words, H1697 when ye spake H1696 unto me; and the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, I have heard H8085 the voice H6963 of the words H1697 of this people, H5971 which they have spoken H1696 unto thee: they have well H3190 said all that they have spoken. H1696
But as for thee, stand H5975 thou here by me, H5978 and I will speak H1696 unto thee all the commandments, H4687 and the statutes, H2706 and the judgments, H4941 which thou shalt teach H3925 them, that they may do H6213 them in the land H776 which I give H5414 them to possess H3423 it.
Now these are the commandments, H4687 the statutes, H2706 and the judgments, H4941 which the LORD H3068 your God H430 commanded H6680 to teach H3925 you, that ye might do H6213 them in the land H776 whither ye go H5674 to possess H3423 it:
Wherefore G5101 then G3767 serveth the law? G3551 It was added G4369 because of G5484 transgressions, G3847 till G891 G3757 the seed G4690 should come G2064 to whom G3739 the promise was made; G1861 and it was ordained G1299 by G1223 angels G32 in G1722 the hand G5495 of a mediator. G3316 Now G1161 a mediator G3316 is G2076 not G3756 a mediator of one, G1520 but G1161 God G2316 is G2076 one. G1520
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 24
Commentary on Exodus 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
Ex 24:1-18. Delivery of the Law and Covenant.
3, 4. Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord—The rehearsal of the foregoing laws and the ten commandments, together with the promises of special blessings in the event of their obedience, having drawn forth from the people a unanimous declaration of their consent, it was forthwith recorded as the conditions of the national covenant. The next day preparations were made for having it (the covenant) solemnly ratified, by building an altar and twelve pillars; the altar representing God, and the pillars the tribes of Israel—the two parties in this solemn compact—while Moses acted as typical mediator.
5. young men—priests (Ex 19:22), probably the oldest sons of particular families, who acted under the direction of Moses.
oxen—Other animals, though not mentioned, were offered in sacrifice (Heb 9:18-20).
6. Moses took half of the blood … sprinkled—Preliminary to this was the public reading of the law and the renewed acceptance of the terms by the people; then the sprinkling of the blood was the sign of solemn ratification—half on each party in the transaction.
8. Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people—probably on the twelve pillars, as representing the people (also the book, Heb 9:19), and the act was accompanied by a public proclamation of its import. It was setting their seal to the covenant (compare 1Co 11:25). It must have been a deeply impressive, as well as instructive scene, for it taught the Israelites that the covenant was made with them only through the sprinkling of blood—that the divine acceptance of themselves and services, was only by virtue of an atoning sacrifice, and that even the blessings of the national covenant were promised and secured to them only through grace. The ceremonial, however, had a further and higher significance, as is shown by the apostle (see as above).
9. Then went up Moses, and Aaron—in obedience to a command given (Ex 24:1, 2; also Ex 19:24), previous to the religious engagement of the people, now described.
Nadab, and Abihu—the two oldest sons of Aaron [Ex 6:23].
seventy of the elders—a select number; what was the principle of selection is not said; but they were the chief representatives, the most conspicuous for official rank and station, as well as for their probity and weight of character in their respective tribes.
10. And they saw the God of Israel—That there was no visible form or representation of the divine nature, we have expressly intimated (De 4:15). But a symbol or emblem of His glory was distinctly, and at a distance, displayed before those chosen witnesses. Many think, however, that in this private scene was discovered, amid the luminous blaze, the faint adumbrated form of the humanity of Christ (Eze 1:26; compare Ga 3:24).
sapphire—one of the most valuable and lustrous of the precious gems—of a sky-blue or light azure color and frequently chosen to describe the throne of God (see Eze 1:26; 10:1).
11. upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand—The "nobles," that is, the elders, after the sprinkling of the blood, were not inspired with terror in presence of the calm, benign, radiant symbol of the divine majesty; so different from the terrific exhibitions at the giving of the law. The report of so many competent witnesses would tend to confirm the people's faith in the divine mission of Moses.
eat and drink—feasted on the peace offering—on the remnants of the late sacrifices and libations. This feast had a prophetic bearing, intimating God's dwelling with men.
12. I will give thee tables of stone—The ten commandments, which had already been spoken, were to be given in a permanent form. Inscribed on stone, for greater durability, by the hand of God Himself, they were thus authenticated and honored above the judicial or ceremonial parts of the law.
13. Moses went up into the mount of God—He was called to receive the divine transcript. Joshua was taken a little higher, and it would be a great comfort for the leader to have his company during the six days he was in patient waiting for the call on the seventh or sabbath day.
14. he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us—There is a circular valley or hollow a good way up on the brow of Jebel Musa, which was their halting place, while he alone was privileged to ascend the highest peak. The people stood below, as in the "outer court," the elders in the "holy place," Moses, as a type of Christ, in "the holy of holies."
18. Moses went into the midst of the cloud—the visible token of God's presence. Divine grace animated and supported him to enter with holy boldness.
Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights—The six days spent in waiting are not included. During that protracted period he was miraculously supported (De 9:9), on a peak scarcely thirty paces in compass.