Moses - told the people all the words of the Lord - That is, the ten commandments, and the various laws and ordinances mentioned from the beginning of the 20th to the end of the 23d chapter. read more
Moses wrote all the words of the Lord - After the people had promised obedience, ( Exodus 24:3 ;), and so entered into the bonds of the covenant, "it was necessary," says Calmet, "to draw up an act by which the memory of these transactions might be preserved, and confirm the covenant by authentic and solemn ceremonies." And this Moses does. As legislator, he reduces to writing all the articles and conditions of the agreement, with the people's act of consent. As their mediator and the... read more
He sent young men - Stout, able, reputable young men, chosen out of the different tribes, for the purpose of killing, flaying, and offering the oxen mentioned here. Burnt-offerings - They generally consisted of sheep and goats, Leviticus 1:10 . These were wholly consumed by fire. Peace-offerings - Bullocks or goats; see Hebrews 9:19 . The blood of these was poured out before the Lord, and then the priests and people might feast on the flesh. read more
The book of the covenant - The writing containing the laws mentioned in the three preceding chapters. As this writing contained the agreement made between God and them, it was called the book of the covenant; but as no covenant was considered to be ratified and binding till a sacrifice had been offered on the occasion, hence the necessity of the sacrifices mentioned here. Half of the blood being sprinkled on the Altar, and half of it sprinkled on the People, showed that both God and They... read more
They saw the God of Israel - The seventy elders, who were representatives of the whole congregation, were chosen to witness the manifestation of God, that they might be satisfied of the truth of the revelation which he had made of himself and of his will; and on this occasion it was necessary that the people also should be favored with a sight of the glory of God; see Exodus 20:18 . Thus the certainty of the revelation was established by many witnesses, and by those especially of the most... read more
Upon the nobles of - Israel he laid not his hand - This laying on of the hand has been variously explained. He did not conceal himself from the nobles of Israel by covering them with his hand, as he did Moses, Exodus 33:22 . He did not endue any of the nobles, i.e., the seventy elders, with the gift of prophecy; for so laying on of the hand has been understood. He did not slay any of them; none of them received any injury; which is certainly one meaning of the phrase: see Nehemiah... read more
Verse 4 4.And Moses (308) wrote all the words of the Lord. This parenthesis is opportunely inserted; for we shall see a little further on that the book was read before the people; but, in order to awaken greater attention, before the reading he built an altar and offered victims in the sight of all the people. Moreover, it must be observed that statues (309) were erected near the altar according to the number of the tribes, that they might know that they were not kept afar off in token of... read more
Verse 5 5.And he sent young men of the children of Israel. He either means that they were the sacrificial attendants (victimarios,) by whose hands the victims were killed, or that some were chosen who might be active and strong to drag the oxen to the altar. The tribe of Levi was not yet consecrated; whereas the word used for “offering,” (310) is only applied to the priests, where a distinction is marked between the Levites and the rest of the people. The first meaning is, therefore, the most... read more
Verse 11 11.And upon the nobles of the children of Israel. These words, as it seems to me, are violently distorted by those (318) who expound them, that the elders were not made participators of the prophetic gift, or that the virtue of God did not extend to them; for these clauses are to be taken connectedly thus: although they saw God, His hand was not laid upon them but they ate and drank. Hence we may gather that God’s paternal favor towards them is pointed out in that He spared them; for... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 24:11
And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand ,.... Which some interpret of his hand of prophecy, and of the measure of the Spirit, such an one as Moses had, and by virtue of which he lived forty days and nights without eating and drinking; but these not having such a measure of the Spirit, were obliged to eat and drink to support nature, as in the next clause: but it is rather to be understood of the hand of God; he did not inflict any disease or death upon them on... read more