Êxodo 24

Êxodo 24

Trapp comments on the altar - Representing God on the one party, as the twelve pillars did the people (ISRAEL) on the other party. So here was a formal covenant. Cassuto on altar - “In the ceremony to be performed, the altar will represent the glory of the Lord, whilst the pillars will represent the tribes of Israel; the two contrasting parties will stand facing each other.” Kaiser has a slightly different interpretation of the altar - It is probably not correct to speak, as some do, of the altar as representing the Lord on the basis of Genesis 15:9–10, 17. This is a rite of purification (not the water, scarlet wool, and hyssop of Lev 14:6–7 and Heb 9:19–20). The division of the blood points to the twofold aspect of the blood of the covenant: The blood on the altar symbolizes God’s forgiveness and acceptance of the offering; the blood on the people points to a blood oath that binds them in obedience. In other words, the keeping of the words and laws was made possible by the sacrificial blood of the altar. (EBC-Ex) Thomas Davis on altar - Altars were places where the divine and human worlds interacted. Altars were places of exchange, communication, and influence. God responded actively to altar activity. The contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal involving an altar demonstrated interaction between Yahweh and Baal. Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice to Yahweh. God smelled the aroma and found it pleasing. He responded to Noah's action by declaring that he would never again destroy all living things through a flood. In the patriarchal period, altars were markers of place, commemorating an encounter with God (Ge 12:7), or physical signs of habitation. Abraham built an altar where he pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai. Presumably at that altar he "called on the name of the Lord" (Ge 12:8). Interestingly, we are not told if there was a response. In the next passage, however, Abraham went to Egypt and fell into sin, lying about Sarah out of fear of Pharaoh. Perhaps there was no true communication at the altar between Bethel and Ai.Sacrifices were the primary medium of exchange in altar interactions. The priestly code of Leviticus devotes a great deal of space to proper sacrificial procedure, and to what sacrifices are appropriate in various circumstances. Sacrifice was the essential act of external worship. Unlike the divinities of the nations surrounding ancient Israel, Yahweh did not need sacrifices to survive. The Israelites, however, needed to perform the act of sacrifice in order to survive (Ex 30:21). The act of sacrifice moved the offering from the profane to the sacred, from the visible to the invisible world. By this action the worshiper sealed a contract with God. Blood, believed to contain the "life" of an animal (or a human being), was particularly important in the sacrificial ritual. It was sprinkled against the altar (Leviticus 1); once a year, blood was smeared on the horns of the incense altar. (Altar) Related Resource: What is an altar? | GotQuestions.org With twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel - NIV = " representing the twelve tribes of Israel." In Ex 23:24 Israel was instructed regarding the pagan pillars to "break their sacred pillars in pieces." The pagans used pillars to symbolize their false gods. These 12 pillars symbolized 12 tribes and their covenant with the true God. For pillars representing the tribes see Joshua 4:5, 20, 1 Kings 18:31. Currid - Pillars often serve as testimonials of covenants in the Bible (see Ge 31:45–54; Josh 24:27). So both parties of the covenant were represented by physical signs—Yahweh by the altar and Israel by the pillars. NET Note on pillars - The “standing-stone” could be a small piece about a foot high, or a huge column higher than men. They served to commemorate treaties (Gen 32), or visions (Gen 28) or boundaries, or graves. Here it will function with the altar as a place of worship. We see the association of setting up pillars and sharing of meals as part of the cutting covenant in the OT.... (Genesis 26:26-31) Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant (CUT A COVENANT) with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.’” 30 Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank (MEAL TO CELEBRATE COVENANT). 3 1In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace. (Genesis 31:45-54) Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed, 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. 50 “If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me. 52 “This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 “The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” (CALLING ON GOD TO JUDGE IF THEY BREAK COVENANT) So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to the meal; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain. Pillars (04676)(matstsebah from natsab = to take a stand) means something set upright, most often "a standing, unhewn block of stone utilized for religious and memorial purposes. After a powerful experience of the Lord in a dream, Jacob set up as a pillar the stone on which he had laid his head, in commemoration of the event (Ge 28:18, 22; Ge 31:13 cf. Ge 31:45; 35:20). Exodus 24:5 he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. young men: Ex 19:22 burnt offerings: Ex 18:12 Lev 1:1-17 peace offerings: Lev 3:1-17 7:11-21 Exodus 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BURNT OFFERINGS AND PEACE OFFERINGS He sent young men of the sons of Israel - The reason Moses sent young men rather than the priests (Ex 19:22) which apparently did exist (although not yet the formal Levitical priesthood not established until after giving the Law) is not clear, but clearly they carried out the function of priests in this covenant ritual. The young men apparently represent the "first born," as determined by comparing Nu 3:41 "You shall take the Levites for Me, I am the LORD, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” So in this passage we see that Levites were appointed in their place. Rayburn on why young men - There was a practical consideration, of course. This was heavy work; the sort of work most suited to young men. Thompson - Now these sacrifices were extremely important because they illustrated the fact that in order for the people to have a peaceful relationship with God, something must die as a substitute. So in order to have peace with God, some sacrificial substitute must die to make that happen. (Sermon) And they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD - So clearly the sacrificial system had to some degree been implemented, but it will be refined in the book of Leviticus. The words in this passage are exactly as prescribed in Ex 20:24+ "‘You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings." Jethro, Moses' father-in-law had offered burnt offerings in Ex 18:12. The burnt offerings are described in much more detail in Leviticus 1:1-17+ and speak of atonement (see below). As alluded to, the animal sacrifices would provide blood Moses would then use to ratify the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. Note also that the offerings were to the LORD and not to any other god, against which they had been solemnly warned in Ex 22:20+. Atonement - To made atonement is to give or do that whereby alienation ceases and reconciliation ensues. "Reconciliation" is the equivalent term given for the same Hebrew word, kopher (see kippur/kippurim). (Multiple articles on atonement) Burnt offering here in Ex 24:5 is translated in the Septuagint (Lxx) with holokautoma used only 3x in the NT (Mk 12:33, Heb 10:6-note, Heb 10:8-note) Holokautoma refers to a wholly-consumed sacrifice, whole burnt offering, whole victim burned and gives us our English word "holocaust". BDAG summarize holokautoma as (1) a cultic sacrifice in which the animal was entirely consumed by fire - whole burnt offering, literally holocaust (See Jewish Holocaust) (2) a person punished with death by fire because of personal conviction, whole burnt offering, holocaust fig urative extension of (1) - used of Polycarp (who was martyred by burning at the stake) Holokautoma is used 175x in the Septuagint (Lxx) Currid - The first was the whole burnt offering, so named because it was almost completely burned on the altar. It had an atoning efficacy—that is, it was an offering to Yahweh for sin and guilt (see Lev. 1)....These sacrifices demonstrated that, of the two parties to the treaty, God was the overlord / suzerain and Israel the vassal. In ancient Near-Eastern covenants, the vassal was required to pay homage and honour to the suzerain. Biblical Illustrator -sacrifice on the altar--the burnt offering = life surrendered--and the peace offering = communion with God and one another. Burnt offerings (05930)('olah from 'alah = to ascend and thus the picture of going up in smoke) refers to a whole burnt offering (one which goes up in smoke), which was voluntary, was understood as a sacrificial gift to God, resulting in a pleasing aroma acceptable to Jehovah (Lev 1:9). The presenter laid hands on the sacrifice which many feel signifies they saw the animal sacrifice as their substitute. The blood was sprinkled on the altar (Lev 1:6) When this offering was properly carried out (including a right heart attitude not just a "going through the motions," [which was not pleasing to God - Jer 6:20, Jer 7:21, 23, 24, see David - Ps 51:16-17+] not just an external "work," but an internal submission and obedience to Jehovah), they made atonement and were acceptable before Jehovah. The total burning indicated (or should have indicated) total consecration of the presenter's heart and soul and life to Jehovah. Related Resources: What is a peace offering / fellowship offering? | GotQuestions.org What is a burnt offering? | GotQuestions.org What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org What was the brazen altar? | GotQuestions.org (this was in the Tabernacle) Exodus 24:6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. the blood: Ex 24:8 12:7,22 Col 1:20 Heb 9:18 12:24 1Pe 1:2,19 on the altar: Ex 29:16,20 Lev 1:5,11 3:2,8 4:6 Exodus 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SPRINKLING OF BLOOD ON ALTAR Since there were two parties in the covenant, the blood was divided for each party. Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins - This would be used for sprinkling the people. The important principle is that God relates to people through covenant and any covenant connection that God would have with humans was based on blood. The writer of Hebrews emphasizes this principle writing that "according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Stated another way, without the shedding of blood, there is no relationship with God. And the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar - The altar was the place Jehovah was worshiped. To sprinkle blood on the altar was to identify the blood with the LORD, Who was the One Who initiated (cut) the covenant with Israel. The writer of Hebrews describes this event but in place of the altar, he mentions the book... (Hebrews 9:18-19+) Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, Currid on sprinkled on the altar - Moses next took half the blood of the sacrifices and ‘threw’ it upon the altar, which symbolized the presence of Yahweh. Later, in verse 8, he would throw the other half on the people. Both parties of the covenant were thus doused with ceremonial blood, in a ritual that sealed the covenant in blood for both parties. Blood is an essential element of covenant-making in the Bible. Robertson properly defines a covenant as ‘a bond in blood’. This is illustrated in Genesis 15:9–20+; Ge 17:9–14 and Jeremiah 34:18. To the Hebrew, blood was the life-force. And to have blood as the basic physical element of the ratification ceremony meant that the covenant was one that applied to the extremes of life and death. Keeping the covenant meant that life would ensue; breaking it led to the spilling of blood and to death. We see the importance of blood in the cutting of covenants in the covenant God cut with Abraham. Genesis 15:9-20+ So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16“Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” 17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant (CUT A COVENANT) with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: 19the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim Related Resource: Covenant - A Walk of Death Jeremiah 34:18 ‘I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts– (THE PENALTY FOR TRANSGRESSING THIS COVENANT WAS DEATH). NET Note - The people and Yahweh through this will be united by blood, for half was spattered on the altar and the other half spattered on/toward the people (v. 8). Wiersbe feels that "Some of the blood was sprinkled on the altar, signifying that God had forgiven His people of their sins." (ED: It certainly pointed toward that end, but ultimately we know "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." [Heb 10:4, cf Heb 10:1]. So while the blood of the animals may have "covered" their sins, it did not take them away, something only the blood of the blood of the Lamb of God [Jn 1:29] could accomplish. Indeed, every OT sacrifice pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.). Exodus 24:7 Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!" the book: Ex 24:4 Heb 9:18-23 read: De 31:11-13 Ac 13:15 Col 4:16 1Th 5:27 All that: Ex 24:3 Jer 7:23,24 Exodus 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BOOK OF THE COVENANT READ TO ISRAEL Then he took the book of the covenant - These were God's words "dictated" to and transcribed by Moses word for word (inspired, inerrant, infallible). NET Note - The noun “book” would be the scroll just written containing the laws of chaps. 20–23. On the basis of this scroll the covenant would be concluded here. The reading of this book would assure the people that it was the same that they had agreed to earlier. But now their statement of willingness to obey would be more binding, because their promise would be confirmed by a covenant of blood. And read it in the hearing of the people - Note the repeated emphasis on the Word which was central to the life of the nation (Exodus 24:3, 4, 7). And by the same token it is just as central to the life of every believer today! (Mt 4:4+, et al). This is the second time Israel had heard the words, the first being in Ex 24:3 when Moses "recounted" them and now as he reads them. Repetition was a common practice among ancient teachers. This is quite a feat as there are up to two million people. How all were able to hear is not clear. There are stories of some of the great evangelists like George Whitefield who preached in open fields to as many as 20,000 or more. However Moses' voice was "amplified" the point is that all Israel clearly heard these words. This book of the covenant was to be read before the people every seven years... (Deut 31:10-13) Then Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of remission of debts, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing. 12 “Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that (TERM OF PURPOSE - FOR READING BOOK OF THE COVENANT) they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe (NOTE THE PROGRESSION OF VERBS - HEAR, LEARN, FEAR, OBSERVE) all the words of this law. 13 “Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.” Currid - It is important to note that the Book of the Covenant (i.e., the law at Sinai) is the foundation of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. It is the tie that binds! And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient! - Again we see the adjective all used by Israel. Note that now they add the affirmation we will be obedient. And the way the Hebrew text reads is emphatic indicating that there was no doubt that the sons of Israel were agreeing to the covenant. Be obedient is the verb shama which is the same verb used in the warning and promise passages in Ex 23:21-22+ (SEE BELOW) And so in contrast with the unconditional covenant of Jehovah with Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21+, here we have a conditional covenant between Jehovah and Israel. The book of the covenant or the Mosaic Covenant as it is often called was based on obedience. IF Israel obeyed, they would be blessed (see above where God promised He would be the Enemy of their enemies!) Centuries later another Jewish man wrote a warning and a promise about hearing God's Word and doing God's Word But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For (TERM OF EXPLANATION) if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25+) DID ISRAEL KEEP HER "MARRIAGE VOWS"? It is interesting that in this ratification ceremony of the "Book of the Covenant" there are no warnings given to Israel regarding their need to obey the covenant. However we have previously seen Yahweh clearly warns Israel of her need to obey the stipulations of the covenant... Exodus 15:26+ And He (JEHOVAH) said, “IF (IF = MARKS A CONDITIONAL STATEMENT) you will give earnest HEED (Hebrew = shama -- EVEN IN ENGLISH "HEED" MEANS TO PAY CLOSE AND CAREFUL ATTENTION) to the voice of the LORD your God, and DO what is right in His sight, and GIVE EAR to His commandments, and KEEP all His statutes,I WILL (GOD'S PROMISE IF THEY FULFILL THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT) put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.” Comment: Recall that the Hebrew verb shama in many contexts conveys the basic idea of perceiving a message and by extension of hearing with reverence and obedient assent Exodus 23:21-22+ BE ON YOUR GUARD (shamar - a command) before him and OBEY (Hebrew = shama - another command) his voice; DO NOT BE REBELLIOUS (Hebrew = marah) toward him, FOR (TERM OF EXPLANATION) he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him (SPEAKS OF IDENTITY, EVEN ONENESS - cf Jn 10:30. IT IS ALMOST CERTAINLY A REFERENCE TO THE Angel of the LORD - see Ex 23:20+). 22 “But IF (CONDITIONAL CLAUSE) you truly OBEY (Hebrew = shama) His voice and DO all that I say, THEN I WILL (YAHWEH'S PROMISE) be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. So did Israel obey? Some 900 years later the prophet Jeremiah recorded Jehovah's words... Jeremiah 7:23,24 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘OBEY (Hebrew = shama - a command) My voice (A CONDITIONAL STATEMENT), and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not OBEY (Hebrew = shama) or INCLINE THEIR EAR, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward." Jeremiah 11:6-13 And the LORD said to me, “PROCLAIM (command to Jeremiah) all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘HEAR (command to Israel) the words of this covenant (FIRST THEY NEED TO HEAR - BUT WHAT COVENANT? THE "BOOK OF THE COVENANT" IN Ex 24:7!) and DO them. 7 ‘For (TERM OF EXPLANATION) I solemnly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt (Ex 15:26+, Ex 23:21-22+), even to this day, warning persistently, saying, “LISTEN (shama - command - KJV = "OBEY") to My voice.” 8‘ Yet (TERM OF CONTRAST) they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant (DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN Dt 28:15-68 Dt 29:21-24 Dt 30:17-19 Dt 31:17,18 Dt 32:20-26), which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’” 9 Then the LORD said to me, “A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 “They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel (NORTHERN KINGDOM OF 10 TRIBES) and the house of Judah (SOUTHERN KINGDOM) have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.” 11 Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them. 12 “Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they surely will not save them in the time of their disaster. 13 “For your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. Comment: Israel was chosen by Jehovah to be a faithful "wife" (Isa 54:5, Jer 31:32), but she in essence "broke her marriage vows", rejecting the laws of the "book of the covenant" and went after other "lovers" (gods, idols). In Jeremiah 11:13 she went after Baal, a word which means master, owner, or husband. In effect faithless Israel rejected her Husband Jehovah and as the King James vividly puts it went "a whoring" (e.g., Ex 34:15-16KJV). Exodus 24:8 So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." sprinkled: Ex 24:6 Lev 8:30 Isa 52:15 Eze 36:25 Heb 9:18-21 Behold: Zec 9:11 Mt 26:28 Mk 14:24 Lu 22:20 1Co 11:25 Eph 1:7 Heb 9:20 10:4,5 13:20 1Pe 1:2 Exodus 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SPRINKLING OF BLOOD ON PEOPLE So - Term of conclusion. Based on Israel's verbal vow affirming they will obey and do. Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people - This was a solemn service to remind the Israelites of their solemn oath! The throwing of blood on Israel bound them to keep the covenant! Cassuto has an interesting thought that perhaps Moses threw the blood "on the pillars that represented the 12 tribes of Israel." (Good thought). Others think it was sprinkled on the seventy elders as they were in a sense representatives of the entire nation. Walter Kaiser - The blood by which the covenant was ratified and sealed was the basis for the union between Yahweh and the people. This phrase becomes most important in the NT in its reappearance in the Lord’s Supper (Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24; Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; Heb 9:20; Heb 10:29; also Heb 12:24; Heb 13:20; 1 Peter 1:2). (EBC-Ex) Currid - In this ceremonial act, Moses throws the remaining blood on the people, binding them to a blood oath—it is a covenant to the extremes of life and death. There is another picture in this scene. What Moses is doing in a sense is acting as a minister would today in marrying a man and a woman in the marriage covenant. Here Jehovah is the Husband and Israel is His bride as mentioned in other OT passages. (Jeremiah 31:31-32) Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers (HERE IN EXODUS 24) in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they (ISRAEL) broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:5) “For your (ISRAEL) husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. This sprinkling of blood on the Israelites under the Old Covenant was a shadow of the sprinkling of blood on believers in the New Covenant. Peter records the following regarding the blood of the New Covenant: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen (ELECT) 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ (NOTE TRINITY INVOLVED) and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (1 Peter 1:1-2+) Peter goes on to explain that the blood of the New Covenant was the blood of Christ... If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct (aorist imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth (NOW READ WHAT SHOULD MOTIVATE US TO HOLY CONDUCT!); 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:17-19+) Sprinkled (scattered, threw) (02236)(zaraq) means to sprinkle, to toss, to throw, to scatter in abundance, to be sprinkled and most of the OT uses (see below) refer to the priest's actions in carrying out the rituals of the sacrifices and offerings. The priests were to sprinkle blood on the altar in the burnt offering (Lev 1:5,11, Lev 9:12, 2Ki 16:15). So clearly in the context of the ratification of the Old Covenant, Moses is functioning as a priest. Notice he has gone up to God for Israel (mediator), has spoken from God to Israel (prophet) and here functions as priest to Israel. NET Note on toward the people - Given the size of the congregation, the preposition might be rendered here “toward the people” rather than on them (all). While I am not sure I agree completely with the comments by Keil and Delitzsch the are interesting to consider - In the blood sprinkled on the altar [Ex 24:6], the natural life of the people was given up to God, as a life that had passed through death, to be pervaded by His grace; and then through the sprinkling upon the people [Ex 24:8] it was restored to them again, as a life renewed by the grace of God. In this way the blood not only became a bond of union between Jehovah and His people, but by the blood of the covenant, it became a vital power, holy and divine, uniting Israel and its God; and the sprinkling of the people with this blood was an actual renewal of life, a transposition of Israel into the kingdom of God, in which it was filled with the powers of God’s spirit of grace, and sanctified into a kingdom of priests, a holy nation of Jehovah (Ex 19:6).” Cassuto has a good explanation about the blood on the altar and the blood on the people - The throwing of half of the blood of the offerings against the altar, which represented the Lord, and half on the people, or that which represented them, signifies a joining together of the two contracting parties (communio), and symbolized the execution of the deed of covenant between them. Between one blood-throwing and the other, the content of the covenant was finally and solemnly ratified by Moses’ reading from the Book of the Covenant and by the people’s expression of consent.” (A Commentary on the Book of Exodus) And said "Behold - The Hebrew word hinneh is used to call special attention to what follows as being of special importance. And what follows is the summary statement of the entire Old Testament or Old Covenant for it describes the grounds for Jehovah's relationship with Israel. The blood of the covenant - Blood was necessary to seal the covenant. The covenant was the most solemn and binding agreement that could be made in ancient times and the solemnity was testified to by the use of blood, which in turn required an animal must die. It was as if Israel in agreeing to this covenant is identifying (by the sprinkling of the blood) was saying we are willing to die if we do not keep this covenant. Sadly, that is exactly what happened to many in Israel and will continue to happen until the receive the Messiah as their Redeemer. NET Note - The construct relationship “the blood of the covenant” means “the blood by which the covenant is ratified” (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 254). The parallel with the inauguration of the new covenant in the blood of Christ is striking (see, e.g., Matt 26:28, 1 Cor 11:25). When Jesus was inaugurating the new covenant, he was bringing to an end the old. This same phrase the blood of the covenant was also used in the ratification of the new covenant, but instead of the blood of bulls and goats, it was ratified with the blood of the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29+), "Who gave Himself for us (SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE) to redeem (JESUS PAID IN FULL THE PRICE TO SET SINNERS FREE FROM PENALTY AND POWER OF SIN, DEVIL, DEATH) us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession (cf WHAT ISRAEL WAS TO HAVE BEEN TO YAHWEH - Ex 19:5+ = "My own possession among all the peoples"), zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:14+) Matthew 26:27-28 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, (cf Jn 6:53) which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Mark 14:24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. THOUGHT: Not only did the blood of Christ set us free from sin and death, but it also provides the foundation for our growth and maturity (progressive sanctification) in Jesus Christ, the writer of Hebrews recording this truth in a great prayer (PRAY THIS FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOUR BRETHREN, YOU MISSIONARIES!) - Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing (GOD'S PROVISION) to do His will (OUR RESPONSIBILITY), (GOD'S SPIRIT) working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21+) Which the LORD has made with you - Note it is the LORD who initiated this covenant, not Israel. The verb made is the Hebrew verb karath which means to cut. It is very apropos for the sacrificial animals had to be cut (and die) in order to shed the blood of the covenant, the blood by which the covenant was finalized or ratified. In accordance with all these words - NLT = "in giving you these instructions." What words? Moses is referring to the words of the covenant in the preceding chapters.