< Exodus 24 >

1 The Lord told Moses, “Come up to the Lord—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders. You are to worship at a distance.
And he said unto Moses, Come up unto YHWH, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
2 Only Moses may approach the Lord—the others must not come near. The people may not go up the mountain with him.”
And Moses alone shall come near YHWH: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.
3 Moses went and told the people all the Lord's instructions and regulations. They all responded together: “We will do everything the Lord says!”
And Moses came and told the people all the words of YHWH, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which YHWH hath said will we do.
4 Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the following morning and built an altar at the bottom of the mountain, and set up twelve pillars for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
And Moses wrote all the words of YHWH, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
5 Then he sent out some young Israelite men who went and offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord.
And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto YHWH.
6 Moses put half of the blood into bowls, and sprinkled the other half on the altar.
And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7 Then he picked up the Book of the Agreement and read it to the people. They replied, “We will do everything the Lord says. We will obey.”
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that YHWH hath said will we do, and be obedient.
8 So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Look, this is the blood of the agreement that the Lord has made with you following these terms.”
And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which YHWH hath made with you concerning all these words.
9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders climbed up the mountain,
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
10 and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a tiled pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear blue as the sky itself.
And they saw the Elohim 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.
11 But God did not harm the leaders of Israel—they saw him, and they ate and drank a sacred meal.
And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw Elohim, and did eat and drink.
12 Then the Lord told Moses, “Come up the mountain to me, and stay here, so I can give you the stone tablets, with the instructions and commands I have written for them to learn.”
And YHWH 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.
13 So Moses left with Joshua his attendant and climbed up the mountain of God.
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of Elohim.
14 He told the elders, “Stay here and wait for us to return. Aaron and Hur are with you. If anyone has a problem, they can talk with them.”
And 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.
15 As Moses climbed up on the mountain, the cloud covered it
And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
16 The Lord's glory came down on Mount Sinai, covering it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud.
And the glory of YHWH 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.
17 To the Israelites the Lord's glory looked like a burning fire on the top of the mountain.
And the sight of the glory of YHWH was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
18 Moses went into the cloud as he climbed up on the mountain, and he stayed on the mountain for forty days and nights.
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and got him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

< Exodus 24 >