Revelation to the Elders at Sinai/1
The Elders at Sinai
Introduction
Praisewrothy or Blameworthy
Shemot 24 describes the covenant at Sinai. After detailing the bringing of sacrifices, reading of the covenant, and sprinkling of blood on the nation, the verses share how a select few were chosen to see Hashem:
(ט) וַיַּעַל מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא וְשִׁבְעִים מִזִּקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. (י) וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְתַחַת רַגְלָיו כְּמַעֲשֵׂה לִבְנַת הַסַּפִּיר וּכְעֶצֶם הַשָּׁמַיִם לָטֹהַר. (יא) וְאֶל אֲצִילֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ וַיֶּחֱזוּ אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ.
(9) Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. (10) They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. (11) He didn’t lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank.
Though at first glance one might think that this vision was an honor and privilege, indicative of the worthiness of the elders, verse 11 might nmake one question this assumption. The pharse "' appears to mean that Hashem did not send forth His hand to harm, implying that, otherwise, the elders would have been deserving of such punishment. what, though, did the elders do wrong?
