在西奈山立約

24 耶和華又指示摩西說:「你和亞倫、拿答、亞比戶及以色列的七十位長老上我這裡來,遠遠地敬拜我。 只有你可以靠近我,其他人,包括全體百姓,都不得走近。」

摩西下山把耶和華的話和法令都告訴百姓,百姓齊聲回答:「我們願意遵行耶和華的一切吩咐。」 摩西把耶和華的這些話記錄下來。第二天清晨,摩西在山腳築了一座壇,立了十二根柱子代表以色列的十二支派。 他又吩咐以色列的青年去給耶和華獻燔祭,又獻上公牛作平安祭。 摩西把祭牲的血一半放在盆裡,一半灑在壇上。 他又把約書念給百姓聽,百姓聽了都說:「我們願意遵行耶和華的一切吩咐,我們願意順服。」 摩西便把盆中的血灑在百姓身上,說:「這是立約的血,是耶和華按所說的話與你們立約的憑據。」

之後,摩西、亞倫、拿答、亞比戶及七十位長老便上了山。 10 他們都看見了以色列的上帝,祂的腳下好像是一片藍寶石,像天一樣明淨。 11 上帝沒有伸手殺這些以色列的首領,允許他們看見祂,在祂面前吃喝。

12 耶和華對摩西說:「你上山到我這裡來,留在這裡,我要把寫著律法和誡命的石版賜給你,你可以用來教導百姓。」 13 於是,摩西帶著他的助手約書亞動身上了上帝的山。 14 離開之前,摩西吩咐長老說:「你們在這裡等候我們回來。亞倫和戶珥跟你們在一起,百姓當中有什麼訴訟的事情,可以交給他們處理。」

15 摩西上了山,密雲遮蓋著整座山。 16 耶和華的榮耀停留在西奈山上,密雲遮蓋了山六天。第七天,耶和華在雲中召喚摩西。 17 在以色列人眼中,耶和華的榮耀在山上好像烈火。 18 摩西上到山上,走進雲中,在那裡停留了四十晝夜。

立约的仪式

24 耶和华对摩西说:“你要上到耶和华这里来。你自己、亚伦、拿答、亚比户和以色列长老中的七十人都要上来,你们要远远下拜。 只有摩西一人可以走近耶和华,他们却不可以亲近;人民也不可和摩西一同上来。” 摩西下来,把耶和华的一切话和一切典章都向人民讲述;人民都同声回答,说:“耶和华吩咐的一切话,我们都必遵行。” 摩西把耶和华的一切话都记下了;清早起来,在山下筑了一座祭坛,按着以色列十二支派立了十二根柱子。 又派了以色列人中的青年人去献燔祭,又向耶和华杀牛献为平安祭。 摩西取了一半的血,盛在盆中;又取了另一半的血,洒在祭坛上。 他又把约书拿过来,念给人民听;他们说:“耶和华吩咐的一切话,我们都必遵行和听从。” 摩西就取了血来,洒在人民的身上,说:“看哪,这是立约的血,这约是耶和华按着这一切话与你们立的。”

随后,摩西、亚伦、拿答、亚比户和以色列长老中的七十人都上了山。 10 他们看见了以色列的 神;在 神的脚下有好象蓝宝石一样晶莹的铺路,好象天色一般明亮。 11 他不伸手攻击以色列人中的显贵;他们看见 神,并且又吃又喝。

摩西在西奈山上

12 耶和华对摩西说:“你要上山到我这里来,要住在这里;我要把石版,就是我所写的律法和诫命赐给你,使你可以教导人民。” 13 于是,摩西和他的侍从约书亚起来;摩西就上到 神的山那里去了。 14 但摩西对长老说:“你们要在这里等候我们,直到我们再回到你们那里来。看哪!这里有亚伦和户珥与你们在一起,谁有诉讼的案件,都可以到他们那里去。” 15 摩西上到山上,有云彩把山遮盖着。 16 耶和华的荣耀停在西奈山上,云彩把山遮盖了六天;第七天,耶和华从云彩中呼唤摩西。 17 耶和华荣耀的景象,在以色列人眼前,好象在山顶上出现烈火。 18 摩西进入云彩中,上到山上去;摩西在山上四十昼夜。

Yahweh Cuts His Covenant with Israel

24 Then He said to Moses, “(A)Come up to Yahweh, you and Aaron, (B)Nadab and Abihu and (C)seventy of the elders of Israel, and you all shall worship at a distance. Moses alone, however, shall come near to Yahweh, but they shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”

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, “(D)All the words which Yahweh has spoken we will do!” (E)And Moses wrote down all the words of Yahweh. Then he arose early in the morning and built an (F)altar [a]at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, (G)and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to Yahweh. (H)And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he [b]sprinkled on the altar. Then he took (I)the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “(J)All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” So (K)Moses took the blood and [c]sprinkled it on the people and said, “Behold (L)the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has cut with you [d]in accordance with all these words.”

Then Moses went up [e]with Aaron, (M)Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and (N)they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet [f](O)there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, [g]as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and (P)they beheld God, and they ate and drank.

12 Now Yahweh said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and [h]remain there, and (Q)I will give you the stone tablets [i]with the [j]law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses arose [k]with (R)Joshua his [l]attendant, and Moses went up to (S)the mountain of God. 14 But to the elders he said, “(T)Remain here for us until we return to you. And behold, (U)Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever [m]has a legal matter, let him approach them.” 15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and (V)the cloud covered the mountain. 16 (W)And the glory of Yahweh dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He (X)called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 (Y)And the appearance of the glory of Yahweh was like a (Z)consuming fire on the mountain top, in the eyes of the sons of Israel. 18 Then Moses entered the midst of the cloud [n]as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain (AA)forty days and forty nights.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 24:4 Lit under
  2. Exodus 24:6 Lit threw, splashed
  3. Exodus 24:8 Lit threw, splashed
  4. Exodus 24:8 Lit on all
  5. Exodus 24:9 Lit and
  6. Exodus 24:10 Lit like a pavement
  7. Exodus 24:10 Lit and as
  8. Exodus 24:12 Lit be
  9. Exodus 24:12 Lit and
  10. Exodus 24:12 Or instruction, cf. 24:12b
  11. Exodus 24:13 Lit and
  12. Exodus 24:13 Or minister
  13. Exodus 24:14 Lit is a master of matters
  14. Exodus 24:18 Lit and