The big picture
Exodus 24 opens in verse 1 with “And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD , thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:”, and closes in verse 18 with “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was…” Repeated or prominent terms include Moses, LORD, mount, Israel, people. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 18Exodus 24:1-6
1–6: He said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD , thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and…
Exodus 24:1–6 opens with “And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD , thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy…” and reaches “And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Covenant confirmation at the mountain and Moses entering the cloud, with particular weight carried by LORD, Moses, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD , thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of…” Naming Aaron and Abihu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Moses alone shall come near the LORD : but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Exodus 24:1-6
King James Version1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD , thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
2And Moses alone shall come near the LORD : but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.
3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD , and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
4And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD , and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD .
6And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
Exodus 24:7-12
7–12: He took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the…
Exodus 24:7–12 opens with “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All…” and reaches “And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Covenant confirmation at the mountain and Moses entering the cloud, with particular weight carried by Israel, LORD, Moses.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
“And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
Exodus 24:7-12
King James Version7And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
8And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
9Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
10And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
11And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
12And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
Exodus 24:13-18
13–18: Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount…
Exodus 24:13–18 opens with “And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.” and reaches “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Covenant confirmation at the mountain and Moses entering the cloud, with particular weight carried by mount, Moses, cloud.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with…” Naming Aaron and Hur keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 24:13-18
King James Version13And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
14And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
15And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
16And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
18And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 24:1 begins with “And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD , thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 24:9 forms a natural hinge: “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:”
The final note
Exodus 24:18 leaves the reader with “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Moses, LORD, mount, Israel, people, blood help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does Rebekah contribute beyond family eligibility?
Energy, hospitality and a direct decision to make the journey.
Why is the servant's retelling so long?
It presents the sequence to the family and explains why he sees divine guidance in it.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.