Exodus 24:1
New International Version
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance,

New Living Translation
Then the LORD instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance.

English Standard Version
Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.

New American Standard Bible
Then He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance.

NASB 1995
Then He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance.

NASB 1977
Then He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you all shall worship at a distance.

Amplified Bible
Then God said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu (Aaron’s older sons), and seventy of Israel’s elders, and you shall worship at a [safe] distance.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to Moses, “Go up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders, and bow in worship at a distance.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He said to Moses, “Go up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of Israel’s elders, and bow in worship at a distance.

American Standard Version
And he said unto Moses, Come up unto Jehovah, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off:

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on this mountain. Bring along Aaron, as well as his two sons Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of Israel's leaders. They must worship me at a distance,

English Revised Version
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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "You and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 of Israel's leaders come up the mountain to me and worship at a distance.

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up the mountain to me, you and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the leaders of Israel; and while you are still some distance away, bow down in worship.

International Standard Version
The LORD told Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses, ?Come up to the LORD?you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel?s elders?and you are to worship at a distance.

NET Bible
But to Moses the LORD said, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from a distance.

New Heart English Bible
He said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to Moses, Come up to the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

World English Bible
He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He said to Moses, “Come up to YHWH, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy from [the] elderly of Israel, and you have bowed yourselves far off”;

Young's Literal Translation
And unto Moses He said, 'Come up unto Jehovah, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and ye have bowed yourselves afar off;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said to Moses, Come up to Jehovah, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy from the old men of Israel; and worship from far off.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to Moses: Come up to the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients of Israel, and you shall adore afar off.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He also said to Moses: “Ascend to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders out of Israel, and adore from a distance.

New American Bible
Moses himself was told: Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, with Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You shall bow down at a distance.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND he said to Moses, Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and you shall worship afar off.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And to Moshe he said, “Come up to LORD JEHOVAH, you and Ahron and Nadab and Abihu and seventy men of the Elders of Israel, and you shall worship from a distance.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And unto Moses He said: 'Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And to Moses he said, Go up to the Lord, thou and Aaron and Nadab and Abiud, and seventy of the elders of Israel: and they shall worship the Lord from a distance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Covenant Sealed
1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD— you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders— and you are to worship at a distance. 2Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”…

Cross References
Hebrews 9:18-22
That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. / For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, / saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” ...

Matthew 17:1-3
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. / There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. / Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

Hebrews 12:18-24
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; / to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. / For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” ...

Mark 9:2-4
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. / His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them. / And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

Luke 9:28-31
About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. / And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white. / Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus. ...

2 Corinthians 3:7-11
Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory, / will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? / For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness! ...

Acts 7:38
He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.

Revelation 4:1-2
After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.” / At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.

1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 5:5
At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. And He said:

Leviticus 10:1-3
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. / Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.

Numbers 11:16-17
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders of Israel known to you as leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting and have them stand there with you. / And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.

Deuteronomy 4:10-12
The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.” / You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. / And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

Exodus 19:20-24
The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up, / and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. / Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to Moses, Come up to the LORD, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship you afar off.

come up

Exodus 24:15
And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

Exodus 3:5
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Exodus 19:9,20,24
And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD…

Nadab

Exodus 6:23
And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Exodus 28:1
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

Leviticus 10:1,2
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not…

seventy

Exodus 24:9
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

Exodus 1:5
And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Numbers 11:16,24,25
And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee…

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Aaron Abihu Abi'hu Afar Bowed Chiefs Distance Elders Israel Moses Nadab Seventy Worship Yourselves
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Aaron Abihu Abi'hu Afar Bowed Chiefs Distance Elders Israel Moses Nadab Seventy Worship Yourselves
Exodus 24
1. Moses is called up into the mountain
3. The people promise obedience
4. Moses builds an altar, and twelve pillars.
6. He sprinkles the blood of the covenant
9. The glory of God appears
14. Aaron and Hur have the charge of the people
15. Moses goes into the mountain, where he continues forty days and forty nights.














Then the LORD said to Moses
This phrase marks a direct communication from God to Moses, emphasizing the unique relationship between them. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, highlighting His covenantal faithfulness. Moses, as the chosen leader and prophet, acts as an intermediary between God and the Israelites. This divine instruction underscores the importance of obedience and reverence in approaching God.

Come up to the LORD
The invitation to "come up" signifies a call to ascend both physically and spiritually. The Hebrew root "alah" implies an upward movement, symbolizing a journey towards holiness and divine presence. This ascent is not just geographical but also a call to elevate one's heart and mind towards God. It reflects the idea that approaching God requires preparation and sanctification.

you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu
Moses is instructed to bring Aaron, his brother, and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu. Aaron, as the high priest, represents the priestly line, while Nadab and Abihu, though later known for their disobedience, are initially part of this sacred assembly. Their inclusion signifies the establishment of a priestly order, essential for mediating between God and His people. This highlights the importance of leadership and responsibility in spiritual matters.

and seventy of the elders of Israel
The number seventy is significant, often representing completeness and the nation's leadership. These elders are chosen representatives, symbolizing the collective wisdom and authority of Israel. Their presence indicates a communal aspect of worship and covenant, where the entire nation is involved in the divine relationship. This gathering foreshadows the establishment of a structured community under God's law.

and you are to worship at a distance
Worship "at a distance" reflects the holiness of God and the necessary separation due to human sinfulness. The Hebrew concept of "worship" involves reverence, submission, and service. This distance underscores the awe and respect required in approaching God, acknowledging His transcendence. It serves as a reminder of the need for mediation and the eventual fulfillment of this through Christ, who bridges the gap between God and humanity.

XXIV.

THE RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT.

(1) And he said.--We should have expected "And God said," or "And Jehovah said." The omission of the nominative is probably to be accounted for by the insertion into Exodus at this point of "the Book of the Covenant," which was originally a distinct document. Exodus 24:1 of Exodus 24 probably followed originally on Exodus 20:21 of Exodus 20. The sequence of the words was then as follows: "And Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. And he said unto Moses," &c.

Come up.--The ascent of Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders seems to have been commanded in order to give greater solemnity to the ratification of the covenant between God and Israel, which is the main subject of this section. Moses received instructions on the subject before descending, and no doubt was divinely guided in the steps which he took previously to ascending with them.

Nadab, and Abihu.--Aaron's two elder sons. (See Exodus 6:23.)

Seventy of the elders.--These are not the "judges" of Exodus 18:21-26, who were not yet appointed (see Note on Exodus 18:24-25), but rather the heads of tribes and families who had exercised authority over the Israelites in Egypt, and through whom Moses had always communicated with the people. (See Exodus 3:16; Exodus 4:29; Exodus 12:21; Exodus 17:5-6.) . . .

Verses 1-8. - THE RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT. The giving of the Book of the Covenant being now completed, Moses, having received directions with respect to another ascent into the mount (vers. 1, 2), descended to the people, and in the first instance declared to them the main heads of the Covenant, which they received with favour, and expressed their willingness to obey (ver. 3). Not, however, regarding this as a sufficiently formal ratification, the Prophet proceeded to write out in a "Book" the whole of the commands which he had received, He then built an altar, erected twelve pillars, offered sacrifice, and having collected half the blood of the victims in basins, summoned the people to an assembly. At this, he read over solemnly all the words of the Book to them, and received their solemn adherence to it (ver. 7); whereupon, to complete the ceremony, and mark their entrance into covenant, he sprinkled the blood from the basins on the twelve tribes, represented by their leaders, and declared the acceptance complete (ver. 8). The ceremony was probably modelled on some customary proceedings, whereby important contracts between man and man were ratified among the Hebrews and Syrians. Verses 1, 2. - It has been supposed that these verses are out of place, and suggested to remove them to the end of verse 8. But no change is necessary. It is quite natural that God should have given the directions before Moses descended from the mount, and that he should have deferred executing them until the people had accepted the covenant. Nadab and Abihu were the two eldest of Aaron's sons, and so his natural successors in the priesthood, had they not sinned by offering "strange fire" (Leviticus 10:1, 2). They had been mentioned previously, in Exodus 6:23. Seventy of the elders. On the elders of Israel, see Exodus 3:16, and Exodus 18:21. The "seventy" eiders may, together with Nadab and Abihu, have represented the twelve tribes, six from each. Worship ye afar off. Though all were to ascend the mount to a certain height, only Moses was to go to the top. The others, being less holy than Moses, had to worship at a distance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then [the LORD] said
אָמַ֜ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֨ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

“Come up
עֲלֵ֣ה (‘ă·lêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD—
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

you
אַתָּה֙ (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

and Aaron,
וְאַהֲרֹן֙ (wə·’a·hă·rōn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

Nadab
נָדָ֣ב (nā·ḏāḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5070: Nadab -- an Israelite name

and Abihu,
וַאֲבִיה֔וּא (wa·’ă·ḇî·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 30: Abihu -- 'he is father', a son of Aaron

and seventy
וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים (wə·šiḇ·‘îm)
Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural
Strong's 7657: Seventy (a cardinal number)

of Israel’s
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

elders—
מִזִּקְנֵ֣י (miz·ziq·nê)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

and you are to worship
וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם (wə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wî·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

at a distance.
מֵרָחֹֽק׃ (mê·rā·ḥōq)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious


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OT Law: Exodus 24:1 He said to Moses Come up (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 23:33
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