and his fifth climb up (up/down in 19:3/7; 19:8/14; 19:20/25; 20:21/ 24:3; 24:9, further up in 24:13/32:15; 34:4/34:29). His fifth climb involved three stages: with the elders; with Aaron and sons part way; with Joshua a bit further (v. 13a); and alone to the top (v. 13b). He stayed on the mountain for forty days (v. 18; 32:15). The text mentions for the first time here that there were seventy elders, having referred to them earlier as “capable men,” chosen at Jethro’s counsel to serve as judges