Exodus 24:11

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

And on the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

American King James Version (AKJV)

And on the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

American Standard Version (ASV)

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: and they beheld God, and did eat and drink.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

And he put not his hand on the chiefs of the children of Israel: they saw God, and took food and drink.

Webster's Revision

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and ate and drank.

World English Bible

He didn't lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank.

English Revised Version (ERV)

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: and they beheld God, and did eat and drink.

Clarke's Exodus 24:11 Bible Commentary

Upon the nobles of - Israel he laid not his hand - This laying on of the hand has been variously explained.

1. He did not conceal himself from the nobles of Israel by covering them with his hand, as he did Moses, Exodus 33:22.

2. He did not endue any of the nobles, i.e., the seventy elders, with the gift of prophecy; for so laying on of the hand has been understood.

3. He did not slay any of them; none of them received any injury; which is certainly one meaning of the phrase: see Nehemiah 13:21; Psalm 55:20. Also they saw God, i.e., although they had this discovery of his majesty, yet they did eat and drink, i.e., were preserved alive and unhurt.

Perhaps the eating and drinking here may refer to the peace-offerings on which they feasted, and the libations that were then offered on the ratification of the covenant. But they rejoiced the more because they had been so highly favored, and were still permitted to live; for it was generally apprehended that God never showed his glory in this signal manner but for the purpose of manifesting his justice; and therefore it appeared a strange thing that these should have seen God as it were face to face, and yet live. See Genesis 16:13; Genesis 33:10; and Judges 13:22, Judges 13:23.

Barnes's Exodus 24:11 Bible Commentary

He laid not his hand - i. e. He did not strike them. It was believed that a mortal could not survive the sight of God Exodus 33:20; Genesis 32:30; Judges 6:22; Judges 13:22 : but these rulers of Israel were permitted to eat and drink, while they were enjoying in an extraordinary degree the sense of the divine presence, and received no harm.

Wesley's Exodus 24:11 Bible Commentary

24:11 Upon the nobles or elders of Israel he laid not his hand - Though they were men, the splendour of his glory did not overwhelmthem, but it was so moderated ( Job 36:9 ,) and they were so strengthened ( Daniel 10:19 ,) that they were able to bear it: nay, though they were sinful men, and obnoxious to God's justice, yet he did not lay his avenging hand upon them, as they feared he would. When we consider what a consuming fire God is, and what stubble we are before him, we shall have reason to say, in all our approaches to him, It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. They saw God, and did eat and drink; They had not only their lives preserved, but their vigour, courage, and comfort; it cast no damp upon their joy, but rather increased it. They feasted upon the sacrifice before God, in token of their chearful consent to the covenant, their grateful acceptance of the benefits of it, and their communion with God in pursuance of that covenant.

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