Exodus 24:7

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

And he took {H3947} the book {H5612} of the covenant {H1285}, and read {H7121} in the audience {H241} of the people {H5971}: and they said {H559}, All that the LORD {H3068} hath said {H1696} will we do {H6213}, and be obedient {H8085}.

Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud, so that the people could hear; and they responded, "Everything that ADONAI has spoken, we will do and obey."

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient.

Commentary

Exodus 24:7 marks a pivotal moment in the establishment of the covenant between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. Following the giving of the Ten Commandments and additional statutes, Moses formalizes this divine agreement with the people.

Context

This verse is part of a significant sequence in Exodus 24, detailing the ratification ceremony of the Mosaic Covenant. After God revealed His laws (Exodus 20-23), Moses wrote them down in what is referred to as the "book of the covenant." This collection included not only the Ten Commandments but also civil and ceremonial laws that would govern Israel's life as God's chosen people. Moses' act of reading these laws aloud ensured that the entire congregation was fully aware of the terms and conditions God had laid out for their relationship with Him. This public declaration served to impress upon the people the gravity of their commitment to the divine instructions given on Mount Sinai, setting the stage for their role as a holy nation.

Key Themes

  • Covenant Ratification: The reading of the "book of the covenant" and the people's immediate assent signified the formal acceptance and sealing of the agreement between God and Israel. This was a two-sided commitment, with God promising blessings for obedience and the people pledging faithfulness.
  • Voluntary Obedience: The people's resounding affirmation, "All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient," highlights their collective and seemingly enthusiastic willingness to submit to God's will. This was not forced compliance but a public, verbal commitment to live according to His divine instructions. This voluntary commitment is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often contrasted with later failures to uphold the covenant, as seen in Jeremiah 11:4.
  • Divine Authority and Human Responsibility: The "book of the covenant" represents God's authoritative revelation of His expectations. The people's response underscores their responsibility to hear, understand, and live by these commands. Their pledge set the foundation for their national identity and their relationship with the Almighty.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "book of the covenant" translates from the Hebrew sepher habberith (סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית), emphasizing a written, formal document. The act of writing down the laws made them tangible and permanent, serving as a constant reminder of God's expectations and Israel's obligations. The people's response, "we will do, and be obedient," uses two strong verbs. The word translated "do" (נַעֲשֶׂה - na'aseh) indicates active performance, while "be obedient" (וְנִשְׁמָע - venishma') comes from the root shama, which means not just to hear, but to hear and *obey*. This combination signifies a complete and active submission to God's word, a foundational principle for God's people throughout history, echoed in the call to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might.

Practical Application

Exodus 24:7 serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of covenant and commitment. For believers today, while we are under the New Covenant established by Christ's blood, the principle of willing obedience remains central. Just as the Israelites affirmed their commitment to God's revealed word, we are called to embrace and live out the teachings of the Bible. Our understanding of God's will should lead to a heartfelt desire to obey Him, not out of legalistic obligation, but out of love and gratitude for His grace. This verse challenges us to consider: Have we truly heard God's word, and are we actively saying, with our lives, "All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient"?

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 31:11 (7 votes)

    When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

  • Deuteronomy 31:13 (7 votes)

    And [that] their children, which have not known [any thing], may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

  • Exodus 24:3 (5 votes)

    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.

  • Exodus 24:4 (5 votes)

    And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:27 (5 votes)

    I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

  • Jeremiah 7:23 (4 votes)

    But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

  • Jeremiah 7:24 (4 votes)

    But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.