9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up,
10 and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself.
11 But he did not lay a hand on the leaders of the Israelites, so they saw God, and they ate and they drank.
Having difficulty with these verses,
1.all that are called, is a repetition of verse 1, and verse 9 (no problem).
2. The repeat of "and they saw G-d" in verse 10 & 11. (Not doubting they did, but seeing and living after what happened in story of Avraham) and then statement "he did not lay a hand on the leaders of the Israelite" = death? (Note:They had gone up after worshipping)
3.anthropomorphism of God 'lay a hand' and 'under his feet' (when physical forms are used is the reference to Yeshua?)
4. 'Something like a pavement made of sapphire' clear like the sky, (are there other references to pavement in scripture and why the reference to sapphire (why not ruby or emerald or other stones))
5. then to conclude the experience "they ate and they drank"( there is something casual going on here, not sure I could eat and or drink after 'seeing G-d')
NOTE:I know this is a lot in three verses, it is all interconnected, so there is no way to ask a simple question.....
Yipes! Still, I feel adventurous, so I will attempt it.
1.all that are called, is a repetition of verse 1, and verse 9 (no problem). It is one of three statements that are alike, so it should be looked at...within the chapter (remember that chapters and verses are a recent addition to the Books of the
). These appear to be three seperate visits. If you look carefully at the whole chapter, these visits take place over 47 or more days...probably 49 or 50, as it is the time of the giving of the Commandments to Israel as celebrated in the feast of Shavuot.
However, the first mention in that chapter is specifically about Moshe going to the closest point alone, the second about all of them going up, while the second and third mention the sight of YHVH in heaven (from the reference to sapphire) I would say they were two seperate approaches, the reference to the vision of G-d in heaven tying the second and third visits together...yet one can see that a specific distance is being kept to show just how much of an honor it was to go up toward YHVH at all, Moshe first by himself, then with all of them, yet taking Y’hoshua with him the second time, and the others left at a distance, yet still blessed with the Vision of YHVH in Heaven for evidently a long period of time, if they were able to take time to relax, eat and drink in celebration of the extended vision.
Exodus 24:1-18 (CJB)
1 To Moshe [Adonai] said, “Come up to Adonai — you, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu, and seventy of the leaders of Isra’el. Prostrate yourselves at a distance,
2 while Moshe alone approaches Adonai — the others are not to approach, and the people are not to go up with him.” 3 Moshe came and told the people everything Adonai had said, including all the rulings. The people answered with one voice: “We will obey every word Adonai has spoken.”
4 Moshe wrote down all the words of Adonai. He rose early in the morning, built an altar at the base of the mountain and set upright twelve large stones to represent the twelve tribes of Isra’el.
5 He sent the young men of the people of Isra’el to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings of oxen to Adonai.
6 Moshe took half of the blood and put it in basins; the other half of the blood he splashed against the altar.
7 Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud, so that the people could hear; and they responded, “Everything that Adonai has spoken, we will do and obey.”
8 Moshe took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which Adonai has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
9 Moshe, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu and seventy of the leaders went up; 10 and they saw the God of Isra’el. Under his feet was something like a sapphire stone pavement as clear as the sky itself.
11 He did not reach out his hand against these notables of Isra’el; on the contrary, they saw God, even as they were eating and drinking.
12 Adonai said to Moshe, “Come up to me on the mountain, and stay there. I will give you the stone tablets with the and the mitzvot I have written on them, so that you can teach them.”
13 Moshe got up, also Y’hoshua his assistant; and Moshe went up onto the mountain of God.
14 To the leaders he said, “Stay here for us, until we come back to you. See, Aharon and Hur are with you; whoever has a problem should turn to them.” 15 (S: Maftir) Moshe went up onto the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
16 (A: Maftir) The glory of Adonai stayed on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moshe out of the cloud.
17 To the people of Isra’el the glory of Adonai looked like a raging fire on the top of the mountain.
18 Moshe entered the cloud and went up on the mountain; he was on the mountain forty days and nights.
2. The repeat of "and they saw G-d" in verse 10 & 11. (Not doubting they did, but seeing and living after what happened in story of Avraham) and then statement "he did not lay a hand on the leaders of the Israelite" = death? (Note:They had gone up after worshipping)One can 'see' in a vision, and survive it. Since the picture is so clear and specific, it sounds like is a symbolic overlay of our reality. When you add it to eating and drinking, it sounds like they were celebrating...perhaps because of what they were given to see? And this was the time of the feast of Shavuot, so mentioning eating and drinking is appropriate.
3.anthropomorphism of God 'lay a hand' and 'under his feet' (when physical forms are used is the reference to Yeshua?) I would simply call it a statement, speaking in men's terms. There is not that much written that is not seen through a man's reference point and ability to see, and describing it as what it most looked like, or felt like. I would imagine there was great relief at not dying, particularly if those seeing though they were seeing YHVH in the flesh (supposing of course that He had flesh to be seen in), as opposed to a vision. Because it is described in terms that describe man, I would not think it an actual description of YHVH, or even of his Shikinah, as when Moshe saw Him leaving...he only saw the back of YHVH, and probably only of the Shekinah, since I don't think YHVH is describable in Himself.
4. 'Something like a pavement made of sapphire' clear like the sky, (are there other references to pavement in scripture and why the reference to sapphire (why not ruby or emerald or other stones)5. then to conclude the experience "they ate and they drank"( there is something casual going on here, not sure I could eat and or drink after 'seeing G-d')The colour blue is frequently associated with the tabernacle and temple furnishings. For example:
"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them." Exod 26:1
In conjunction with precious stones, the sky blue colour of sapphire represents heavenly things:"And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone" Ezek 1:26
Blue is also associated with the commandments of God, the importance of remembering them and also the heavenly calling of those who had been chosen by God to be His people (Numbers 15:38-40).
The ark of the covenant in the Tabernacle was covered with blue cloth representing its close association with the Word of God (Numbers 4:5-7; 11-13).
The robe of the High Priest was also blue, again symbolising the close association with God and His Word (Exodus 28:31-33).
Blue is connected with that which is holy in God's service "And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you shall make them on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set." Exodus 26:4
5. then to conclude the experience "they ate and they drank"( there is something casual going on here, not sure I could eat and or drink after 'seeing G-d')Eating and Drinking is a celebration of G-d's goodness, both to maintain out health, but also as a feast in celebration of a particular occasion (like seeing a wonderful, grand vision of YHVH in Heaven, or a set reason (like the moedim - apointed times). This must be the establishment of the appointed time of Shavuot
I also think this whole chapter is a statement of how far Israel was and is from G-d...too frightened of G-d to hear Him directly...and just how much Moshe is an evident type of Yeshua, standing as Goel and intermediary with YHVH.
Abba obviously want the 70 to 72 'elders' to feel appreciated, hence the vision, but they could not go near Him...Only Moshe, and later Y’hoshua. Still, even the second time, only Moshe enters the cloud...the Shekinah. This is a reminder of how great is His Presence, and how devoted and obedient one needs to be to enter into it.
I hope that helps...tearing apart the verses and comparing things doesn't always get at the whole of the message though...still, one must remember that this is a history, a statement of what happened, and who it happened to.
Thank you for the question...it was fun to tear apart, and dig at it, although I am sure there is even more there in the Hebrew!
). These appear to be three seperate visits. If you look carefully at the whole chapter, these visits take place over 47 or more days...probably 49 or 50, as it is the time of the giving of the Commandments to Israel as celebrated in the feast of Shavuot.
