Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 24:4
And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
4. wrote ] that they might be preserved in a tangible form, and form the basis of a permanent covenant ( v. 7).
builded an altar ] Cf. Exo 17:15; and on Exo 20:24.
under the mount ] Cf. Exo 19:17.
pillars ] or standing-stones (see on Exo 23:24); partly, as the usual adjunct of an altar, partly, perhaps, that they might be witnesses of the ratification of the covenant (cf. Gen 31:45; also Jos 24:27).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Twelve pillars – As the altar was a symbol of the presence of Yahweh, so these twelve pillars represented the presence of the Twelve tribes with whom He was making the covenant.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Moses wrote all the words of the Lord] After the people had promised obedience, (Ex 24:3), and so entered into the bonds of the covenant, “it was necessary,” says Calmet, “to draw up an act by which the memory of these transactions might be preserved, and confirm the covenant by authentic and solemn ceremonies.” And this Moses does.
1. As legislator, he reduces to writing all the articles and conditions of the agreement, with the people’s act of consent.
2. As their mediator and the deputy of the Lord, he accepts on his part the resolution of the people; and Jehovah on his part engages himself to Israel, to be their God, their King, and Protector, and to fulfil to them all the promises he had made to their fathers.
3. To make this the more solemn and affecting, and to ratify the covenant, which could not be done without sacrifice, shedding and sprinkling of blood, Moses builds an altar, probably of turf, as was commanded, Ex 20:24, and erects twelve pillars, no doubt of unhewn stone, and probably set round about the altar. The altar itself represented the throne of God; the twelve stones, the twelve tribes of Israel. These were the two parties, who were to contract, or enter into covenant, on this occasion.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Moses wrote, to wit, in a book, Heb 9:19. And the ten commandments God himself wrote also in tables of stone, Exo 31:18.
Builded an altar; representing God in Christ, as one party in the covenant.
Twelve pillars; representing the people of Israel, the other party. So here are the outward signs and symbols of a covenant made between God and the Israelites.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord,…. Jarchi says, all from the creation, to the giving of the law, and the commands at Marah; but though these were written by him, yet not at this time; but as Aben Ezra more truly observes, what are mentioned in this “parashah”, or section, or what is contained in the two preceding chapters, he not only related to them from his memory, but he wrote them in a book, which is after mentioned, that they might be seen and read hereafter; for these were not the ten commands, they were written as well as spoken by the Lord himself, but the judicial laws before mentioned:
and rose up early in the morning: not on the fifth of Sivan, as Jarchi, the day before the giving of the law, but on the eighth of that month, two days after it:
and built an altar under the hill: under Mount Sinai, about the place where the bounds were set, beyond which the people were not to go:
and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel: to answer to them, and which were to represent them, as seems by the following account; these probably were made of marble stone, of which Mount Sinai consisted, and of which there was plenty thereabout.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. And Moses (308) wrote all the words of the Lord. This parenthesis is opportunely inserted; for we shall see a little further on that the book was read before the people; but, in order to awaken greater attention, before the reading he built an altar and offered victims in the sight of all the people. Moreover, it must be observed that statues (309) were erected near the altar according to the number of the tribes, that they might know that they were not kept afar off in token of rejection, but only that, conscious of their own unworthiness, they might humble themselves before God in fear and trembling; for, though they were removed to a considerable distance, still they were remembered before God, and thus He embraced them all, as it were, by means of these statues. What Moses, however, calls by this name, were not images bearing the shape of a man, but heaps of stones, which might be as monuments representing the twelve tribes; that they might know that they were by no means excluded from the sanctity of the altar.
(308) “Had written.” — Lat.
(309) “Pillars.” — A V. “Some think that this altar was set upon twelve stones, such as Elias built, 1Kg 18:31; and Jos 4:20; in which places, however, the word used is אבנים, ( abanim,) which signifieth stones, which were gathered together to make one altar or heap; but here the word is מצבה, ( matsebah,) which is a pillar, so called a stando, because it standeth alone, and is erected and set up as a monument.” — Abridged from Willet in loco. See ante, vol. 2, p. 117, and note
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Moses wrote.Comp. Exo. 17:14. The familiarity of Moses with writing is throughout presumed in the Pentateuch. One learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians under the nineteenth dynasty could not well be ignorant of this ordinary Egyptian accomplishment.
Under the hill.Heb., the mountain. The Ras Sufsafeh is intended.
Twelve pillars.As the altar symbolised and indicated the presence of Jehovah, one party to the Covenant, so the twelve pillarsprobably long stones set up on end (Gen. 28:18)symbolised the presence of the twelve tribes, the other party. (For another instance of the employment of such symbolism see Jos. 4:3; Jos. 4:9; Jos. 4:20.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh and rose up early in the morning and built an altar under the Mount, and twelve pillars in accordance with the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to Yahweh. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant and read in the hearing of the people, and they said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold, the blood of the covenant which Yahweh has made with you concerning all these words.” ’
Now that the covenant had been offered and accepted the official procedures had to be gone through. First it had to be put into writing (as most ancient covenants were, compare regularly in the Book of Genesis) and then the covenant offerings were made prior to the blood of the covenant being presented to the Overlord, seeking His acceptance of the covenant as written and commitment to it. Then the covenant, having been agreed by the Overlord, was read to the people for their acceptance, after which the blood of the covenant was sprinkled on them and they confirmed their acceptance of it.
Moses may well have worked through the night writing out the covenant. Then he went about the solemn process of ratification. First he built an altar which in a sense represented Yahweh’s side of things. Then he erected twelve pillars to represent the whole people of Israel. (Compare here Gen 31:45-46). Note that all were now seen as incorporated in the twelve tribes. Then he offered whole burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen. Then he applied the blood of the offerings, half to the altar and half to the people. It may be that the latter was mainly done by sprinkling it on the twelve pillars, which would seem to be their purpose, and then by a token sprinkling, but symbolically he was sprinkling the whole people.
“Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh.” This would include ‘the word’ and ‘the judgments’ (Exo 24:3). The whole covenant needed to be ratified. But on the Mount he will receive Yahweh’s copy of the treaty and that is possibly only of the ten words (Exo 24:12 with Exo 34:28; Deu 4:13; Deu 5:22; Deu 10:4. See also Exo 31:18; Exo 32:15-16), so that may be the same here. But it may be that ‘the ten words’ were seen as including the whole, the rest seen as a codicil.
“Rose up early in the morning.” The ceremony would take some time and he probably wished to complete it by the evening.
“Twelve pillars.” This was a legitimate use of pillars as symbolic and as memorials.
“In accordance with the twelve tribes of Israel.” Compare Gen 49:28. The mixed multitude with their mixed descent are now seen as fully incorporated into the twelve tribes of Israel and as ‘descended’ from the patriarchs.
“He sent young men of the children of Israel.” These were no doubt seen as representing Israel’s future. They acted under Moses’ instructions and there was at this stage no known limit as to who could offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. We may be sure that whatever requirements there were would be maintained. But it was Moses who took and applied the blood. Young men may have been used because they were strong and able to carry out their functions without difficulty. But we should note that the young men did not manipulate the blood. That was Moses task as the priest of the people. The use of young men from among the people may have been in order to make the people feel very closely involved. It was not their leadership, somewhat distant from the ordinary Israelite, but young men from among them, who offered these covenant offerings. It was very much a covenant made with them, rather than on their behalf.
“Offered whole burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings (or sacrifices).” The whole burnt offerings were totally consumed and were a very ancient form of sacrifice (Gen 8:20; Gen 22:13; Exo 10:25). Of the peace offerings/sacrifices the blood and fat must be offered to Yahweh but the flesh may be eaten (see Deu 12:27 for the distinction). There are, in this combination, elements of worship, of dedication, of propitiation and of gratitude.
Note. On the whole burnt offerings were ‘offered’ (‘alah – in the hiphil ‘sent up’) and peace sacrifices ‘sacrificed’ or ‘slaughtered’ (zabach) or ‘offered’ (qarab). The verbs relate to the nouns, ‘offer’ to ‘burnt offerings’, and ‘sacrifice’ to ‘peace sacrifices’. However, in Exo 20:24; 1Ki 3:4 whole burnt offerings were also ‘sacrificed’, showing that they were ‘sacrifices’ and demonstrating that the difference was not a vital one, although this use is rare. But in the Pentateuch only whole burnt offerings and meal offerings were ever said to be ‘offered’ (‘alah – sent up) to Yahweh. Outside the Pentateuch ‘peace offerings’ (not designated sacrifices) were also ‘offered’, compare, for example, 2Sa 6:17-18; 2Sa 24:25; 1Ki 9:25 ; 1Ch 16:2; 1Ch 21:26. These latter are also regularly said to be ‘sacrificed’, and there may be two kinds, those wholly offered to Yahweh and those sacrificed and partaken of. Offerings specifically designated as ‘sacrifices’ (zebach) are never ‘offered’ (‘alah). (End of note).
“Put it in basins.” The blood was collected as it flowed out, in basins.
“Sprinkled it on the altar.” By this means the covenant blood was offered to Yahweh, and Yahweh was joined in the covenant. The chiasmus suggests that this was very much the offer to the Overlord of the covenant for His acceptance prior to it being sealed with His vassals.
“Took the Book of the Covenant and read it.” The offer to the Overlord was followed by the solemn reading with a view to official acceptance by the people. The people then formally accepted it.
“Sprinkled it on the people.” This applied the shed blood to the people, joining them in the covenant. It was ‘the blood of the covenant’. The blood sprinkled on the altar and the blood sprinkled on the people was to be seen as ‘one blood’. Both Yahweh and His people were now seen as conjoined in participation of the covenant. As ‘the blood of the covenant’ it probably signified both that death would result from gross disobedience to the covenant, and the application of the benefit of the covenant, in all its atoning aspects, to the people. It had also been sprinkled on the altar, joining Yahweh in the covenant, and purifying the altar. The pillars (Exo 24:4) were also probably sprinkled as representing the whole of the people. They were the counterpart of the altar which was sprinkled representing Yahweh.
The fact that the blood was sprinkled on the people should warn us against making extravagant claims as to what the sprinkling of blood before Yahweh signified. It certainly signified specific application to the person or persons involved, incorporating them within the covenant on pain of death, but without being specific as to the exact further significance. We can, however, be sure that the multiplicity of sacrifices (whole burnt offerings and peace offerings) included atonement, a making of peace, and an indication by the people of tribute offered to their Lord and king, and that it rendered the people acceptable before Yahweh. Blood was regularly shed in the making of covenants among many peoples, but different peoples and interpreters would see it in different ways. Comparative religion can be helpful in supplying ideas, but each nation saw its rites in its own way. In order to understand Israel’s we must look at what Israel said about its own rites, and here they centred on tribute, atonement and the making of peace between God and man.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Exo 24:4. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord Some have supposed that the art of writing was derived immediately from GOD himself, and shewn to Moses particularly by the writing on the tables of stone, mentioned Exo 24:12 but it appears from hence, that Moses understood the art of writing before those tables were delivered to him; and there seem good reasons to believe, that this art had already been long in use. See note on ch. Exo 18:6.
And builded an altarand twelve pillars The parties in the covenant were GOD and the people of Israel: the altar, therefore, was to be a representation of the throne of the Deity; the twelve pillars of the twelve tribes. For the rest, the usual foederal rites are observed.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Perhaps this altar was designed to represent God’s covenant, and the twelve pillars the twelve tribes of Israel. Moses standing between the altar and the pillars, perhaps represented the Lord Jesus as the Mediator.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 24:4 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.
Ver. 4. An altar. ] Representing God on the one party, as the twelve pillars did the people on the other party. So here was a formal covenant.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wrote. See note on Exo 17:14, and App-47.
the hill = the mountain.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
builded
Cf. Exo 33:7-11. This arrangement for worship was temporarily called the “tabernacle.”
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
wrote: Deu 31:9, Jos 24:26
and builded: Exo 20:24-26
twelve pillars: Gen 28:18, Gen 28:22, Gen 31:45, Jos 24:27, Gal 2:9
according: Exo 28:21, Lev 24:5, Num 17:2, Jos 4:2, Jos 4:3, Jos 4:8, Jos 4:9, Jos 4:20, 1Ki 11:30, Ezr 6:17, Luk 22:30, Rev 21:14
Reciprocal: Gen 8:20 – builded Exo 21:1 – which Exo 24:7 – the book Exo 27:1 – altar of shittim wood Exo 32:6 – offered Exo 34:27 – Write Deu 27:5 – And there 1Ki 18:31 – twelve stones 2Ki 16:10 – the pattern 1Ch 21:26 – built there 2Ch 11:3 – to all Israel 2Ch 29:20 – rose Isa 19:19 – General Mat 19:28 – the twelve Heb 8:10 – I will put Jam 1:1 – to
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 24:4. And Moses wrote the words of the Lord That there might be no mistake; as God dictated them on the mount, where, it has been thought by many, God taught him the use of letters; these Moses taught the Israelites, from whom they afterward travelled to Greece and other nations. As soon as God had separated to himself a peculiar people, he governed them by a written word, as he has done ever since, and will do while the world stands. Pillars according to the number of the tribes These were to represent the people, the other party to the covenant; and we may suppose they were set up over against the altar, and that Moses, as mediator, passed to and fro between them. Probably each tribe set up and knew its own pillar, and their elders stood by it. He then appointed sacrifices to be offered upon the altar.