1 Yahweh Cuts His Covenant with Israel Then He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and youallshall worship at a distance.
2 Moses alone, however, shall come near to Yahweh, but they shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”
3 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of Yahweh and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which Yahweh has spoken we will do!”
4 And Moses wrote down all the words of Yahweh. Then he arose early in the morning and built an altar 24:4 Lit under at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
5 And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to Yahweh.
6 And Moses took half of the blood and putitin basins, and theotherhalf of the blood he 24:6 Lit threw, splashed sprinkled on the altar.
7 Then he took the book of the covenant and readitin the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”
8 So Moses took the blood and 24:8Lit threw, splashed sprinklediton the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has cut with you 24:8Lit on all in accordance with all these words.”
9 Then Moses went up 24:9Lit and with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet 24:10Lit like a pavement there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, 24:10Lit and as as clear as the sky itself.
11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they beheld God, and they ate and drank.
12 Now Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and 24:12Lit be remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets 24:12Lit and with the 24:12Or instruction, cf.24:12b law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”
13 So Moses arose 24:13Lit and with Joshua his 24:13Or minister attendant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.
14 But to the elders he said, “Remain here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever 24:14Lit is a master of matters has alegalmatter, let him approach them.”
15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
16 And the glory of Yahweh dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.
17 And the appearance of the glory of Yahweh was like a consuming fire on the mountain top, in the eyes of the sons of Israel.
18 Then Moses entered the midst of the cloud 24:18Lit and as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.