Bible Strands
Exodus 24:13
So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses departs for the mountain of God immediately after receiving God’s command to bring back stone tablets containing law and commandments. He takes Joshua as his attendant while instructing the elders to wait with Aaron and Hur until their return.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יַּ֥עַל (va/i.Ya.'al) literally means "and he went up," marking the physical ascent. Joshua’s role is defined by מְשָׁרְת֑/וֹ (me.sha.re.T/o), meaning "his servant," which identifies his function as Moses’ designated attendant.
The thread — This ascent sequence connects to the later pattern of face-to-face encounters described in Exodus 33:11 and the longstanding attendant relationship noted in Numbers 11:28. The narrative also echoes Moses’ earlier departure from his pastoral duties in Exodus 3:1.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that divine instruction initiates physical movement and delegated leadership. It establishes a pattern where obedience to a direct command precedes access to revelation, with authority temporarily transferred to appointed representatives.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
Cross-references
- Exodus 33:11 Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
- Numbers 11:28 Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
- Exodus 3:1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
- Exodus 17:9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”
- Exodus 32:17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”