“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.”
When he called him up to the mountain to give him the Laws, beginning at Exod. 20 , hitherto.
“And 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.”
Cross references: : Exod. 19:8 When he had received these laws in mount Sinai. Hebrew, judgments.
“And 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.”
Exod. 20:24 Or, at the foot of the mountain.
“And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.”
For as yet the Priesthood was not given to Levi.
“And 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.”
1 Pet. 1:2 ; Heb. 9:20 Which blood signifieth that the covenant broken cannot be satisfied without blood shedding.
“And 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.”
As perfectly as their infirmities could behold his majesty. Hebrew, brick work.
“And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.”
That is, rejoiced. He made them not afraid, nor punished them.
“And 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.”
The second time. Signifying the hardness of our hearts, except God do write his laws therein by his Spirit, Jer. 31:33 ; Ezek. 11:19 ; 2 Cor. 3:3 ; Heb. 8:10 and 10:16. To wit, the people.
“And 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.”
The Lord appeareth like devouring fire to carnal men: but to them that he draweth with his Spirit, he is like pleasant Sapphire.