Font Size
The sealing of the covenant was marked by two events: the first was a symbolic act in which the two parties accepted the terms of the covenant and invoked a curse on themselves should they break it (vv.3-8). The second was a covenant meal in which the two parties, or their representatives, celebrated the new relationship (vv.1-2, 9-11).
God’s preparation (ch. 19) had achieved its desired effect. The people may have little understood the seriousness of their commitment, but they made it. The twelve stones were historical markers bearing witness to what would take place here (see also Jos 4:20-24). Fellowship offerings (24:5, called “peace offerings” in KJV) were a thank offering given in recognition of God’s gracious reconciliation (Lev 3:1-17). The significance of the blood ceremony (24:6-8) is that the people (half of the blood) and God (half of the blood) invoked upon themselves a death like that of the sacrificial animals if they broke the covenant (see Jer 34:18-19 for a similar rite).
Two aspects of the description of the covenant meal are significant. Like Isa 6:1, where only the train of God’s robe is describable, here only the pavement beneath his feet is described (24:10). Human language is not adequate to describe the ineffable. Second, God did not raise his hand (24:11). The covenant blessings meant that God’s holiness would not destroy his people. But not even Moses could look directly into God’s face (33:20).