Exodus 24:18

18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:18 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
The Message Bible (MSG)
18 Moses entered the middle of the Cloud and climbed the mountain. Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
American Standard Version (ASV)
18 And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
18 Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
18 Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
18 Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain for 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 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.
17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.
18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 1 Kings 19:8; Deuteronomy 9:9
  • 2. S Genesis 7:4; Matthew 4:2; Exodus 34:28
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