Exodus 24:18

18 Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.

Exodus 24:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 24:18

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud
Where the glory of God was, and he must at this time be endowed with more than ordinary courage to enter into it, when the glory of the Lord flashed out of it like flames of fire; yet being called of God he was not intimidated, but with great serenity and composure of mind, as may be thought, he went into the presence chamber of the most High, to hear what he had to say unto him:

and gat him up into the mount;
that is, he went into the cloud, after he had ascended the summit of the mount; for it cannot be supposed that he first went into the cloud, and then got himself up to the mount, which yet our version, if not carefully guarded against, may lead unto:

and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights;
without eating or drinking; and just such a term of time Christ fasted in the wilderness; it is probable that the six days before mentioned are to be reckoned part of those forty days, since it is not said that he was in the cloud forty days and forty nights, but in the mount. The Targum of Jonathan adds,

``learning the words of the law from the mouth of the Holy One, whose name is to be praised.''

Living without food so long must be ascribed to a miracle; for Hippocrates F25 that great physician, says, that

``those who remain without food seven days, thenceforward, if they would, cannot receive any support from food, because then the belly will not admit of any;''

and gives this reason for it, because the fasting intestine coheres, or is wrinkled.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Lib. de Carn. in fine, apud Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. vol. 2. p. 196.

Exodus 24:18 In-Context

16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day He called to Moses from the cloud.
17 The appearance of the Lord's glory to the Israelites was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop.
18 Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.