Exodus – Chapter 24

Old Testament • 18 Verses

Chapter Summary

Exodus 24 opens with the words: "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…" The chapter centers on Moses, Aaron and Joshua. Across its 18 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and family and covenant relationships. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And 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.

2And Moses alone shall come up to the Lord, but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people come up with him.

3So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice: We will do all the words of the Lord, which he hath spoken.

4And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord: and rising in the morning, he built an altar at the foot of the mount, and twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and sacrificed pacific victims of calves to the Lord.

6Then Moses took half of the blood, and put it into bowls; and the rest he poured upon the altar.

7And taking the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people: and they said: All things that the Lord hath spoken, we will do, we will be obedient.

8And he took the blood and sprinkled it upon the people, and he said: This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.

9Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients of Israel went up:

10And they saw the God of Israel: and under his feet as it were a work of sapphire stone, and as the heaven, when clear.

11Neither did he lay his hand upon those of the children of Israel, that retired afar off, and they saw God, and they did eat and drink.

12And the Lord said to Moses: Come up to me into the mount, and be there; and I will give thee tables of stone, and the law, and the commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

13Moses rose up, and his minister Josue: and Moses going up into the mount of God,

14Said to the ancients: Wait ye here till we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you: if any question shall arise, you shall refer it to them.

15And when Moses was gone up, a cloud covered the mount.

16And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a cloud six days: and the seventh day he called him out of the midst of the cloud.

17And the sight of the glory of the Lord, was like a burning fire upon the top of the mount, in the eyes of the children of Israel.

18And Moses entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the mountain: And he was there forty days and forty nights.

Important Verses in Exodus 24

“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.”

Exodus 24:1

“And taking the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people: and they said: All things that the Lord hath spoken, we will do, we will be obedient.”

Exodus 24:7

“And they saw the God of Israel: and under his feet as it were a work of sapphire stone, and as the heaven, when clear.”

Exodus 24:10

“And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a cloud six days: and the seventh day he called him out of the midst of the cloud.”

Exodus 24:16

Historical Context

Exodus addresses israel in every generation, commanded to remember the Passover as a perpetual memorial within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 24 of 40 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 18 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Moses, Aaron and Joshua appear at the center of the events recorded here. The passage starts with these words: "And he said to Moses: Come up to the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients of Israel, and…" The chapter ends with: "And Moses entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the mountain: And he was there forty days and forty…" Read against its original backdrop, Exodus recounts the defining event of the Old Testament: God's liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh, most likely Ramesses II. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing

When It Was Written

Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

In this 18-verse narrative, the sacred author records events that advance the story of liberation, law, and worship. A pivotal line is verse 1: "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." The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 355). Here, the Church sees the Exodus as prefiguring Baptism and the Eucharist (CIC 1221, 1363). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize worship and praise as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • ✓Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • ✓God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.

People in This Chapter

Moses11 mentionsAaron3 mentionsJoshua1 mention

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Exodus Chapter 24 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Leo the Great and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. the Church sees the Exodus as prefiguring Baptism and the Eucharist (CIC 1221, 1363). The passage calls believers to grasp that God delivers His people from slavery.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 854) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Exodus Chapter 24 about?

Exodus 24 contains 18 verses. It opens with "And he said to Moses: Come up to the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab and Abiu, and seventy of the ancients of Israel, and…" and closes with "And Moses entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the mountain: And he was there forty days and forty…". The book as a whole is narrative, law, and liturgical instruction.

What is a key verse in Exodus 24?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "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." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Exodus Chapter 24?

This chapter mentions Moses, Aaron, Joshua.

Who wrote Exodus and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with later inspired editing. Describes events of the 13th century BC; reached final written form between the 10th and 5th centuries BC.

Related Chapters

Numbers 27Shares people and themes with this chapterNehemiah 10Shares people and themes with this chapterDeuteronomy 32Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Gloria in Excelsis🙏The Divine Praises🙏Prayer for the Family🙏Novena to the Holy Family

📚 Continue Your Faith Journey

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