Exodus 24

1Then Moses was told, “Come up to GOD, with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, and bow low from afar.

2Moses alone shall come near GOD; but the others shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.”

3Moses went and repeated to the people all GOD’s commands and all the rules; and all the people answered with one voice, saying, “All the things that GOD has commanded we will do!”

4Moses then wrote down all GOD’s commands.Early in the morning, he set up an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

5He designated some assistants among the Israelites, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as offerings of well-being to GOD.

6Moses took one part of the blood and put it in basins, and the other part of the blood he dashed against the altar.

7Then he took the record of the covenant and read it aloud to the people. And they said, “All that GOD has spoken we will faithfully do!”

8Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that GOD now makes with you concerning all these commands.”

9Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel ascended;

10and they saw the God of Israel—under whose feet was the likeness of a pavement of sapphire, like the very sky for purity.

11Yet [God] did not raise a hand against the leaders uncertain. of the Israelites; they beheld God, and they ate and drank.

12GOD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and wait there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and commandments that I have inscribed to instruct them.”

13So Moses and his attendant Joshua arose, and Moses ascended the mountain of God.

14To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you; let anyone who has a legal matter approach them.”

15When Moses had ascended the mountain, the cloud covered the mountain.

16The Presence of GOD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud hid it for six days. On the seventh day Moses was called from the midst of the cloud.

17Now the Presence of GOD appeared in the sight of the Israelites as a consuming fire on the top of the mountain.

18Moses went inside the cloud and ascended the mountain; and Moses remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.