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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 24:12-18

The public ceremony of sealing the covenant being over, Moses is called up to receive further instructions, which we have in the following chapters. I. He is called up into the mount, and there he remains six days at some distance. Orders are given him (Exod. 24:12): Come up to the mount, and be there, that is, ?Expect to continue there for some considerable time.? Those that would have communion with God must not only come to ordinances, but they must abide by them. Blessed are those that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 24:18

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud ,.... Where the glory of God was, and he must at this time be endowed with more than ordinary courage to enter into it, when the glory of the Lord flashed out of it like flames of fire; yet being called of God he was not intimidated, but with great serenity and composure of mind, as may be thought, he went into the presence chamber of the most High, to hear what he had to say unto him: and gat him up into the mount ; that is, he went into the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 24:18

Forty days and forty nights - During the whole of this time he neither ate bread nor drank water; see Exodus 34:28 ; Deuteronomy 9:9 . Both his body and soul were so sustained by the invigorating presence of God, that he needed no earthly support, and this may be the simple reason why he took none. Elijah fasted forty days and forty nights, sustained by the same influence, 1 Kings 19:8 ; as did likewise our blessed Lord, when he was about to commence the public ministry of his own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 24:12-18

Prolonged commune with God. Prolonged commune with God is the soul's truest strengthening, and sweetest refreshment. Without it our spirits languish—we grow weary and faint—worldliness creeps upon us—our thoughts and discourse become "of the earth, earthy"—we have no life or liveliness in ourselves, and can impart none to others. Moses' commune was abnormal, extraordinary, inimitable by us in its main features—its duration, locality, nearness of access, and completeness of isolation. But... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 24:12-18

Moses ascends the mount. Observe, 1 . He alone ascends ( Exodus 24:12 ). Aaron and his sons, with the seventy elders, were left behind. Their privilege was great as compared with that of the body of the people. Yet even they are not permitted to enter the cloud—to draw nigh into God's immediate presence. The limitations and imperfections of the legal economy are stamped on these arrangements. How superior the standing of Christians, who are all permitted to draw nigh; who have now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 24:18

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud . Quitting Joshua, Moses at last, in obedience to the call out of the midst of the cloud, entered within its shadow and disappeared from human vision In this abnormal condition, alone with God, he continued for thirty-four days, making, together with the six days before he entered the cloud, the forty days and forty nights of the text before us. It is noted in Deuteronomy 9:9 , that during the whole of this time he was without food. Compare... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 24:18

During this period of forty days, and the second period when the tables were renewed, Moses neither ate bread nor drank water. Compare marginal references. In like manner, Elijah fasted for forty days, when he visited the same spot 1 Kings 19:8. The two who met our Saviour on the Mount of Transfiguration Matthew 17:3, the one representing the law, the other representing the Prophets, thus shadowed forth in their own experience the Fast of Forty days in the wilderness of Judaea. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 24:18

Exodus 24:18. Moses went into the midst of the cloud It was an extraordinary presence of mind which the grace of God furnished him with, else he durst not have ventured into the cloud, especially when it broke out in devouring fire. And Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights It should seem the six days were not part of the forty; for during those six days Joshua was with Moses, who did eat of the manna, and drink of the brook mentioned Deuteronomy 9:21, and while they were... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 24:1-18

The covenant sealed (24:1-18)When Moses recounted the covenant demands to them, the people once more declared their willingness to obey (cf. 19:8). In ancient times covenants were usually sealed by blood (see notes on Genesis 15:7-21), and at Sinai too God and his people were joined in a blood ritual. Half of the blood was thrown against the altar (representing God) and half was sprinkled on the people. This blood ritual, though having its usual significance in covenant ceremonies, may have had... read more

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