Why did Moses divide the blood in Exodus 24:6? Text and Immediate Context “Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar” (Exodus 24:6). The scene unfolds at Sinai after Israel affirms, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (24:3, 7). The written “Book of the Covenant” (24:7) has just been read aloud; now the covenant is ratified with blood. The Ritual Described 1. Young bulls (24:5) are offered as burnt offerings and peace offerings. 2. Their lifeblood is collected in two basins. 3. One portion is thrown against the stone altar Moses built (24:4). 4. The second portion is later sprinkled upon the people (24:8). Ancient Covenant Framework Hittite suzerain-vassal treaties (14th–13th cent. BC, e.g., the treaty of Šuppiluliuma) and the bilingual Aramaic-Assyrian Sefire Inscriptions (8th cent. BC) record parallel ceremonies in which sacrificial blood or wine is divided between the deity’s altar and the vassal party. Archaeology confirms the pattern of oath-taking with a “shared” substance symbolizing mutual liability if the covenant is breached. Moses is operating within a recognizably Near-Eastern legal form, but he directs its meaning to the one true God. Twofold Direction of the Blood — On the Altar: Godward Aspect Blood on the altar acknowledges that life belongs to Yahweh (Leviticus 17:11). It signifies His acceptance of a substitute and establishes divine participation in the covenant. — On the People: Manward Aspect Blood on the congregation marks them as beneficiaries yet also as liable parties. With the blood literally “upon” them they bear witness that covenant violation warrants their own life-blood (cf. Jeremiah 34:18-19). Legal and Theological Significance Atonement and Cleansing Hebrews 9:22 states, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Sprinkling purges ritual impurity (Numbers 19:13) and sets Israel apart as a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). Covenant Ratification The divided blood functions like a signed contract. The altar represents God; the people represent Israel. Joining the same blood to both parties enacts union. Witness and Seal Blood is the legal “ink.” Joshua 24:27 calls a stone a witness; here, living blood itself is the witness. The people’s audible “We will obey” (24:7) is sealed by a visible, irreversible act. Typological Fulfillment in Christ Hebrews 9:18-20 explicitly cites Exodus 24:6-8 and concludes, “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (9:26). At the Last Supper Jesus echoes Moses: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). At Calvary the blood is not divided; it is wholly poured out, satisfying both Godward justice and human need. Comparative Near Eastern Evidence Mari texts (18th cent. BC) describe animal sacrifices where blood is dashed on stelae and participants. The Ugaritic KTU 1.23 references “cords of life-blood” in oath contexts. These extra-biblical parallels corroborate that Exodus 24 is historically plausible, not anachronistic. Archaeological Corroboration The Late Bronze Age open-air altar at Ein Qudeirat in northern Sinai shows channels where blood could have been caught and flung—a practice compatible with Exodus 24. The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (7th cent. BC) preserve the priestly blessing of Numbers 6, underscoring early written transmission and lending weight to Mosaic liturgical forms. Practical and Devotional Implications 1. Salvation is covenantal; the believer must personally stand under the blood of Christ. 2. Worship involves both Godward surrender (altar) and corporate identity (people). 3. Obedience flows from gratitude for atonement, not as a means to earn it. Summary Moses divided the blood to link both covenant partners—God and Israel—into one life-bond. The altar received blood to acknowledge divine ownership of life; the people were sprinkled to signify purification, liability, and belonging. This bilateral act prefigured the unilateral, perfect sacrifice of Jesus, whose undivided blood secures eternal redemption for all who believe. |
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