Exodus 24:16 Study Bible: The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

◄ Exodus 24:16 ►

and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.

Study Bible

and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai.
The "glory of the LORD" refers to the visible manifestation of God's presence, often associated with light or fire. This event occurs at Mount Sinai, a significant location in the biblical narrative where God gives the Law to Moses. The settling of God's glory signifies His approval and the sanctity of the covenant being established. This moment is a theophany, a direct encounter with God, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. The glory of the LORD is also seen in the New Testament, such as during the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-8), drawing a parallel between Moses and Jesus as mediators of God's covenant.

For six days the cloud covered it,
The cloud represents God's presence and often serves as a protective covering or a means of veiling His full glory, which is too overwhelming for humans to behold. The six days may symbolize a period of preparation or purification, reminiscent of the six days of creation, suggesting a new beginning or order being established. The cloud is a recurring motif in Scripture, symbolizing divine guidance and protection, as seen when the Israelites are led by a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21).

and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.
The seventh day is significant, often associated with completion and rest, as seen in the creation account where God rests on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). This calling of Moses on the seventh day underscores the holiness and completion of the preparation period. It also highlights Moses' unique role as a mediator between God and the Israelites. The voice of the LORD calling from within the cloud emphasizes the direct communication and relationship between God and Moses, prefiguring the intimate relationship believers are invited into through Christ, who is the ultimate mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, whose glory is manifest on Mount Sinai.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to receive the Law and mediate the covenant.

3. Mount Sinai
The mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses and gave the Law to Israel.

4. The Cloud
A visible manifestation of God's presence, symbolizing His glory and holiness.

5. The Seventh Day
A significant day in biblical theology, often associated with completion and rest.

Teaching Points

The Glory of God
God's glory is both awe-inspiring and fearsome. It demands reverence and obedience.

The Significance of the Cloud
The cloud represents God's presence and protection. It is a reminder of His guidance and the mystery of His holiness.

The Importance of Waiting
Moses waited six days before God called him. Patience and preparation are essential in our walk with God.

The Seventh Day
The seventh day signifies completion and rest. It invites us to find rest in God's presence and trust in His timing.

God's Call
God calls us into His presence. We must be attentive and ready to respond to His voice.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the manifestation of God's glory on Mount Sinai shape our understanding of His holiness and majesty?

2. In what ways does the cloud symbolize God's presence in both the Old and New Testaments?

3. What can we learn from Moses' patience and preparation during the six days before God called him?

4. How does the concept of the seventh day in Exodus 24:16 relate to the idea of Sabbath rest in our lives today?

5. How can we be more attentive to God's call in our daily lives, and what steps can we take to ensure we are ready to respond?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 2:2-3
The seventh day is a day of rest, paralleling God's rest after creation and highlighting the completion of His work.

Exodus 19:9
The cloud as a sign of God's presence, preparing the people for His revelation.

Matthew 17:5
The transfiguration of Jesus, where a bright cloud overshadows and God speaks, echoing the Sinai experience.

Hebrews 12:18-24
Contrasts Mount Sinai with Mount Zion, emphasizing the new covenant through Jesus Christ.

Sermons

Communion with God	J. W. Burn.	Exodus 24:12-18
Divine Preparations	W. Burrows, B. A.	Exodus 24:12-18
Moses Ascends the Mount	J. Orr	Exodus 24:12-18
On the Mount with God	J. E. Twitchell.	Exodus 24:12-18
The Best Recommendation	A. J. Gordon.	Exodus 24:12-18

People

Aaron, Abihu, Hur, Israelites, Joshua, Moses, Nadab

Places

Mount Sinai

Topics

Abode, Calleth, Cloud, Covered, Covereth, Glory, Honour, Midst, Mount, Mountain, Rested, Resting, Settled, Seventh, Sinai, Six, Tabernacle, Within

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Exodus 24:16

1349 covenant, at Sinai

Exodus 24:4-18

4269 Sinai, Mount

Exodus 24:15-16

1045 God, glory of

Exodus 24:15-17

1193 glory, revelation of

Exodus 24:15-18

4805 clouds

Library

Sin and Forgiveness
'... Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty....'--EXODUS xxiv. 7. The former chapter tells us of the majesty of the divine revelation as it was made to Moses on 'the mount of God.' Let us notice that, whatever was the visible pomp of the external Theophany to the senses, the true revelation lay in the proclamation of the 'Name'; the revelation to the conscience and the heart; and such a revelation had never before fallen on mortal ears. It is remarkable …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'The Love of Thine Espousals'
'And He said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. 2. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord; but they shall not come nigh, neither shall the people go up with him. 3. And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. 4. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Blood of the Covenant
"Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you."--EX. xxiv. 8; HEB. ix. 20. "This cup is the new covenant in My blood."--1 COR. xi. 25; MATT. xxvi. 28. "The blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified."--HEB. x. 29. "The blood of the everlasting covenant."--HEB. xiii.21. THE blood is one of the strangest, the deepest, the mightiest, and the most heavenly of the thoughts of God. It lies at the very root of both Covenants, but specially of the New Covenant. The difference …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

The Blood of the Testament
BLOOD IS ALWAYS a terrible thing. It makes a sensitive mind shudder even to pronounce the word; but, to look upon the thing itself causes a thrill of horror. Although by familiarity men shake this off, for the seeing of the eye and the hearing of the ear can harden the heart, the instinct of a little child may teach you what is natural to us in referer to blood. How it will worry if its finger bleeds ever so little, shocked as the sight, actually there be no smart. I envy not the man whose pity would …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 58: 1912

The Blood of Sprinkling
Our apostle next tells us what we are come to. I suppose he speaks of all the saints after the death and resurrection of our Lord and the descent of the Holy Ghost. He refers to the whole church, in the midst of which the Holy Spirit now dwells. We are come to a more joyous sight than Sinai, and the mountain burning with fire. The Hebrew worshipper, apart from his sacrifices, lived continually beneath the shadow of the darkness of a broken law; he was startled often by the tremendous note of the …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds.
(Near Bethlehem, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 8-20. ^c 8 And there were shepherds in the same country [they were in the same fields from which David had been called to tend God's Israel, or flock] abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. [When the flock is too far from the village to lead it to the fold at night, these shepherds still so abide with it in the field, even in the dead of winter.] 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them [He stood upon the earth at their side, and did …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Lord's Supper Instituted.
(Jerusalem. Evening Before the Crucifixion.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 26-29; ^B Mark XIV. 22-25; ^C Luke XXII. 19, 20; ^F I. Cor. XI. 23-26. ^a 26 And as they were eating, ^f the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24 and when he had given thanks, { ^b blessed,} ^f he brake it, ^a and he gave to the disciples, and said, ^b Take ye: ^a Take, eat; this is my body. ^f which is ^c given ^f for you: this do in remembrance of me. [As only unleavened bread was eaten during the paschal supper, …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Writings of St. Ambrose.
The extant writings of St. Ambrose may be divided under six heads. I. Dogmatic; II. Exegetic; III. Moral; IV. Sermons; V. Letters; VI. A few Hymns. I. Dogmatic and Controversial Works. 1. De Fide. The chief of these are the Five Books on the Faith, of which the two first were written in compliance with a request of the Emperor Gratian, a.d. 378. Books III.-V. were written in 379 or 380, and seem to have been worked up from addresses delivered to the people [V. prol. 9, 11; III. 143; IV. 119]. This …
St. Ambrose—Works and Letters of St. Ambrose

Things Pertaining to the Kingdom.
"Now is there solemn pause in earth and heaven; The Conqueror now His bonds hath riven, And Angels wonder why He stays below; Yet hath not man his lesson learned, How endless love should be returned." Hitherto our thoughts about "The Kingdom of Heaven" have been founded on the teaching of the King respecting His Kingdom recorded in the Gospels. But we must not forget to give attention to the very important time in the life of our Lord extending between His Resurrection and Ascension, during which …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

The Last Supper
189. On Thursday Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem for the last time. Knowing the temper of the leaders, and the danger of arrest at any time, Jesus was particularly eager to eat the Passover with his disciples (Luke xxii. 15), and he sent two of them--Luke names them as Peter and John--to prepare for the supper. In a way which would give no information to such a one as Judas, he directed them carefully how to find the house where a friend would provide them the upper room that was needed …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

Brief Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature
The arrangements of the synagogue, as hitherto described, combined in a remarkable manner fixedness of order with liberty of the individual. Alike the seasons and the time of public services, their order, the prayers to be offered, and the portions of the law to be read were fixed. On the other hand, between the eighteen "benedictions" said on ordinary days, and the seven repeated on the Sabbaths, free prayer might be inserted; the selection from the prophets, with which the public reading concluded--the …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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