(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
Moshe went up onto the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. (A: Maftir)
When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it,
And Moses went up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount.
And Moses{H4872} went up{H5927} into the mount{H2022}, and a cloud{H6051} covered{H3680} the mount{H2022}.
**Exodus 24:15** is part of the narrative where Moses is on Mount Sinai to receive the law from God. The historical context of this verse is set within the broader account of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their journey towards the Promised Land. This event occurs shortly after the giving of the Ten Commandments and the establishment of the covenant between God and Israel.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Encounter:** The cloud symbolizes God's presence and signifies a theophany, a visible manifestation of the divine. It underscores the sacredness of the moment when Moses meets with God.
2. **Revelation:** The cloud covering the mountain emphasizes the theme of divine revelation, as God is about to impart the detailed laws to Moses that will govern the Israelite community.
3. **Separation:** Moses' ascent and the covering of the mountain by the cloud mark a physical and spiritual separation between Moses and the people, highlighting his unique role as mediator between God and Israel.
4. **Obedience and Faith:** Moses' willingness to enter the cloud demonstrates his obedience to God and his faith in following God's guidance, despite the obscurity and potential danger.
5. **Covenant Relationship:** This event reinforces the covenant relationship between God and Israel, with Moses playing a crucial role in its establishment and maintenance.
**Historical Context:**
The verse is situated in the context of early Israelite religion and society, around the 13th century BCE, during a formative period when the religious and legal foundations of the nation were being established. The Israelites had recently been freed from slavery in Egypt and were in the process of becoming a nation with its own laws and religious practices. The events on Mount Sinai, including the one described in Exodus 24:15, are central to this nation-building process. The laws received by Moses would become the cornerstone of the Mosaic Law, which would shape Jewish religious practice and ethics for centuries to come.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)