The Lord Ratifies the Covenant

24:1 1 But to Moses the Lord2 said, “Come up3 to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from a distance.4 24:2 Moses alone may come5 near the Lord, but the others6 must not come near,7 nor may the people go up with him.”

24:3 Moses came8 and told the people all the Lord’s words9 and all the decisions. All the people answered together,10 “We are willing to do11 all the words that the Lord has said,” 24:4 and Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Early in the morning he built12 an altar at the foot13 of the mountain and arranged14 twelve standing stones15—according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 24:5 He sent young Israelite men,16 and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls for peace offerings17 to the Lord. 24:6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and half of the blood he splashed on the altar.18 24:7 He took the Book of the Covenant19 and read it aloud20 to the people, and they said, “We are willing to do and obey21 all that the Lord has spoken.” 24:8 So Moses took the blood and splashed it on22 the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant23 that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

24:9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up,24 24:10 and they saw25 the God of Israel. Under his feet26 there was something like a pavement27 made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself.28 24:11 But he did not lay a hand29 on the leaders of the Israelites, so they saw God,30 and they ate and they drank.31

24:12 32 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me to the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets33 with34 the law and the commandments that I have written, so that you may teach them.”35 24:13 So Moses set out36 with37 Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up the mountain of God. 24:14 He told the elders, “Wait for us in this place until we return to you. Here are38 Aaron and Hur with you. Whoever has any matters of dispute39 can approach40 them.”

24:15 Moses went up the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 24:16 The glory of the Lord resided41 on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days.42 On the seventh day he called to Moses from within the cloud. 24:17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in plain view43 of the people. 24:18 Moses went into the cloud when he went up44 the mountain, and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.45