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Patriarchs and Prophets
Having sprinkled the altar with the blood of the offerings, Moses
“took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people.”
Thus the conditions of the covenant were solemnly repeated, and all
were at liberty to choose whether or not they would comply with
them. They had at the first promised to obey the voice of God; but
they had since heard His law proclaimed; and its principles had been
particularized, that they might know how much this covenant involved.
Again the people answered with one accord, “All that the Lord hath
said will we do, and be obedient.” “When Moses had spoken every
precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood, ... and
sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, This is the blood of
the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.”
Hebrews 9:19, 20
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Arrangements were now to be made for the full establishment of
the chosen nation under Jehovah as their king. Moses had received
the command, “Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and
Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. And
Moses alone shall come near the Lord.” While the people worshiped at
its foot, these chosen men were called up into the mount. The seventy
elders were to assist Moses in the government of Israel, and God put
upon them His Spirit, and honored them with a view of His power and
greatness. “And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under His
feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the
body of heaven in his clearness.” They did not behold the Deity, but
they saw the glory of His presence. Before this they could not have
endured such a scene; but the exhibition of God’s power had awed
them to repentance; they had been contemplating His glory, purity, and
mercy, until they could approach nearer to Him who was the subject
of their meditations.
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Moses and “his minister Joshua” were now summoned to meet with
God. And as they were to be some time absent, the leader appointed
Aaron and Hur, assisted by the elders, to act in his stead. “And Moses
went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory
of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai.” For six days the cloud covered
the mountain as a token of God’s special presence; yet there was no
revelation of Himself or communication of His will. During this time
Moses remained in waiting for a summons to the presence chamber of
the Most High. He had been directed, “Come up to Me into the mount,
and be there,” and though his patience and obedience were tested, he