Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 24:18
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and got him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
During this period of forty days, and the second period when the tables were renewed, Moses neither ate bread nor drank water. Compare marginal references. In like manner, Elijah fasted for forty days, when he visited the same spot 1Ki 19:8. The two who met our Saviour on the Mount of Transfiguration Mat 17:3, the one representing the law, the other representing the Prophets, thus shadowed forth in their own experience the Fast of Forty days in the wilderness of Judaea.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. Forty days and forty nights.] During the whole of this time he neither ate bread nor drank water; see Ex 34:28; De 9:9. Both his body and soul were so sustained by the invigorating presence of God, that he needed no earthly support, and this may be the simple reason why he took none. Elijah fasted forty days and forty nights, sustained by the same influence, 1Kg 19:8; as did likewise our blessed Lord, when he was about to commence the public ministry of his own Gospel, Mt 4:2.
1. MOSES, who was the mediator of the Old Covenant, is alone permitted to draw nigh to God; none of the people are suffered to come up to the Divine glory, not even Aaron, nor his sons, nor the nobles of Israel. Moses was a type of Christ, who is the mediator of the New Covenant; and he alone has access to God in behalf of the human race, as Moses had in behalf of Israel.
2. The law can inspire nothing but terror, when viewed unconnected with its sacrifices, and those sacrifices are nothing but as they refer to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who alone by the sacrifice of himself, bears away the sin of the world.
3. The blood of the victims was sprinkled both on the altar and on the people, to show that the death of Christ gave to Divine justice what it demanded, and to men what they needed. The people were sanctified by it unto God, and God was propitiated by it unto the people. By this sacrifice the law was magnified and made honourable, so Divine justice received its due; and those who believe are justified from all guilt, and sanctified from all sin, so they receive all that they need. Thus God is well pleased, and believers eternally saved. This is a glorious economy, highly worthy of God its author.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Into the midst of the cloud, the God that called him enabling him to enter and abide there; whereas, when he was left to himself, he could not enter into the tabernacle, Exo 40:35.
Forty days and forty nights; in which he did neither eat nor drink, Exo 34:28; Deu 9:9,18; whereby it seems most probable the six days mentioned Exo 24:16 were a part of these forty days, because Moses being in perpetual expectation of Gods call, seems not to have had leisure for eating and drinking, nor provision neither. Besides, he is not said to be in the midst of the cloud so long, but only
in the mount, where he was those six days, Exo 24:15,16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. Moses went into the midst of thecloudthe visible token of God’s presence. Divine graceanimated and supported him to enter with holy boldness.
Moses was in the mount fortydays and forty nightsThe six days spent in waiting are notincluded. During that protracted period he was miraculously supported(De 9:9), on a peak scarcelythirty paces in compass.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud,…. Where the glory of God was, and he must at this time be endowed with more than ordinary courage to enter into it, when the glory of the Lord flashed out of it like flames of fire; yet being called of God he was not intimidated, but with great serenity and composure of mind, as may be thought, he went into the presence chamber of the most High, to hear what he had to say unto him:
and gat him up into the mount; that is, he went into the cloud, after he had ascended the summit of the mount; for it cannot be supposed that he first went into the cloud, and then got himself up to the mount, which yet our version, if not carefully guarded against, may lead unto:
and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights; without eating or drinking; and just such a term of time Christ fasted in the wilderness; it is probable that the six days before mentioned are to be reckoned part of those forty days, since it is not said that he was in the cloud forty days and forty nights, but in the mount. The Targum of Jonathan adds,
“learning the words of the law from the mouth of the Holy One, whose name is to be praised.”
Living without food so long must be ascribed to a miracle; for Hippocrates y that great physician, says, that
“those who remain without food seven days, thenceforward, if they would, cannot receive any support from food, because then the belly will not admit of any;”
and gives this reason for it, because the fasting intestine coheres, or is wrinkled.
y Lib. de Carn. in fine, apud Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. vol. 2. p. 196.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.During the whole of this time he took no food (Deu. 9:9). Comp. The fast of Elijah (1Ki. 19:8), and that of our blessed Lord (Mat. 3:2). Modern imitations are in all probability impostures.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Forty days and forty nights We naturally compare with this Exo 34:28, and Deu 9:18. Also the fact that Elijah spent the same length of time at this mountain without food, (1Ki 19:8,) and Jesus fasted in the wilderness of his temptation forty days. There appears a symbolism about this number. The spies were forty days searching the land of promise, (Num 13:25,) and that generation was condemned to wander in the desert forty years, (Num 14:34,) to humble and prove them . Deu 8:2. In all these instances the period was one of great trial and discipline, as well as of gracious evidences of God’s mercy and truth.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 24:18. Forty days and forty nights See ch. Exo 34:28. Moses, Elijah, and the Lord Jesus Christ, each fasted forty days and forty nights. See 1Ki 19:8. Mat 4:2.
REFLECTIONS.The covenant being signed and sealed, Moses returns to God with seventy elders: and they are admitted to approach his presence. And God made some awful manifestation of his glory to them. But he neither overwhelmed them with his dazzling brightness, as worms; nor laid an avenging hand on them, as sinners; but they did eat and drink before him, in token of the friendship established in the covenant between them. It will be among the blessings enjoyed in the better Mount of God, to behold much more than Moses law, when we sit and eat bread in the company of him, who is the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person.
But Moses has now another call, to come up higher. Hereupon Aaron and Hur are intrusted with the management of affairs in his absence. Joshua is taken with him, that peculiar honour might be put upon him, being designed for his successor. Six days Moses waited for the Lord. On the seventh, he is called up into the midst of this awful appearance, and fears not to dwell in this devouring fire. There he continued alone forty days and forty nights. Learn, 1. They who are found faithful in God’s service, he will bring nearer to himself. 2. We must wait upon God patiently, but in the exercise and expectation of faith, till he is pleased to manifest himself to us, as he does not to the world. 3. Though God be a consuming fire to his enemies, his faithful people may draw near with confidence. 4. The time spent with God, will never be thought long by a believing soul: for the sake of this honour and comfort, he would forget to eat his bread.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
What an evident type of the Lord Jesus! Mat 4:2 .
REFLECTIONS
Reader! let you and I learn, from the perusal of this Chapter, to prize the invaluable privileges to which we are called, in having our Almighty Mediator, even the Lord Jesus, to go in before the divine presence for us at all times, and upon all occasions. Blessed be that merciful dispensation, which brings us near in his blood and righteousness: so that we can, and do, behold him as the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person. And may we never lose sight of that unspeakable mercy by which we have confidence, that the Lord Jesus having accomplished the redemption of his people, is now ascended up on high, hath led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, yea saith the Holy Ghost, (as if we ought to take particular notice of that) even for the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed Lord! while I read of Moses, in this interview, let thy grace direct me to behold thee, and by thy power enable me to keep it ever in view, that thou art gone up unto the mount to thy Father, and our Father; and there let my soul, by faith, continually ascend, and dwell until that hour shall arrive, when thou wilt return to take thy people to thyself, that where thou art, there they may be also.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 24:18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
Ver. 18. Forty days. ] All which time he never ate nor drank, Deu 9:9 and so better merited the surname of Nesteutes, the faster, than that proud prelate John, Bishop of Constantinople.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
went into. On 20-25th and 26th of Sever: The fourth Sabbath.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
went into: Exo 24:17, Exo 9:29, Exo 9:33, Exo 19:20, Pro 28:1
forty days: Exo 34:28, Deu 9:9, Deu 9:18, Deu 9:25, Deu 10:10, 1Ki 19:8, Mat 4:2, Mar 1:13, Luk 4:2
Reciprocal: Gen 7:12 – forty Exo 24:2 – General Exo 24:12 – Come up Exo 31:18 – gave Exo 32:1 – delayed Exo 32:15 – turned Num 10:33 – the mount Num 13:25 – forty days Num 28:6 – was ordained Deu 4:13 – And he 1Ki 19:11 – stand upon the mount
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
WITH GOD FOR FORTY DAYS
And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
Exo 24:18
Again the people in the strength of their own resolution promise obedience. How little they knew themselves! Only those who are indwelt and possessed by the Holy Spirit can do what they promise. The covenant into which they entered with God was, however, ratified by the blood of victims slain beneath the mount. Yet, notwithstanding all, that covenant was destined to be broken and to be set aside, being superseded by a better, which does not depend on our obedience at all, but on the obedience of our Representative and Surety. The new covenant, which is ordered in all things and sure! We, too, may behold the glory of God, and may eat and drink. There need be no discomposure or agitation in our proximity to Him. And well would it be if all our eating and drinking were carried on beneath the deep impression of His nearness. But there are circles within circles. Outside, the people; then the elders; then Joshua; but closest to God, in the very heart of the burning glory, Moses, the Man of God, the faithful servant.
The great fact that stands out in the text is that Moses spent forty days in solitary communion with God.
I. What is it to be alone with God?(1) In order to be alone with God, we must do as Moses didwe must first get up high enough. Like him, we must go to the mount. If we reach the right standing-point, the converse with God is sure and easy. (2) We must not expect to be always there. Moses went twice, Elijah went once, Peter and James and John only once. (3) Solitude with God is the very opposite of being solitary. To make it there must be two things: we must be alone with God, and God must be alone with us.
II. What are we to do when we are alone with God?(1) We must be still, hush the mind, and listen for voices. (2) We should cultivate a simple and silent prostration of heart before the majesty and beauty of Deity. (3) We may form plans on the mount, or lay out the plans we have formed already. (4) We may go near to God at such times and hold communion with him, not familiarly, but lovingly and tenderly.
Rev. James Vaughan.
Illustration
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. That is what we want in order to see Goda clean heart. And what joy there is in the vision! They saw God, says our Lesson, and did eat and drink. They found satisfaction and joy in feeling near to God. And so there is no happiness like that of knowing God as our Friend and Father, and living close to Him. Two little fellows travelled hundreds of miles in Australia just to catch a glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales when they visited Sydney. Let us ask for the clean heart that we may know God better and love him better and live nearer to Him every day. That is the true secret of happinessnot wealth, not pleasure, but God. In Thy presence is fulness of joy.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Exo 24:18. Moses went into the midst of the cloud It was an extraordinary presence of mind which the grace of God furnished him with, else he durst not have ventured into the cloud, especially when it broke out in devouring fire. And Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights It should seem the six days were not part of the forty; for during those six days Joshua was with Moses, who did eat of the manna, and drink of the brook mentioned Deu 9:21, and while they were together, it is probable Moses did eat and drink with him; but when Moses was called into the midst of the cloud, he left Joshua without, who continued to eat and drink daily while he waited for Moses return, but from thenceforward Moses fasted.