With the purpose of revealing eternal truths to us, our Father Yehovah uses images that are familiar and understandable to our human condition. This is the case in what we read in Exodus 24:1–11. Although the word wedding is never used, we can find in the account many similarities to a marriage ceremony; yet interestingly, we also find described the characteristics of a Blood Covenant.
I suggest that you read the passage carefully and identify the similarities described below:
First, after Yehovah had communicated to Moshe the terms of the covenant, He instructed him regarding how the encounter with Israel (the Bride) would take place in order to seal the covenant. For this purpose, He commanded that a representation of the children of Israel come up to meet Him, and “they shall worship from afar.”
Moshe returned and told the people all the words of Yehovah and all the ordinances; at this moment he is simply informing them of Yehovah’s proposal. Like when a groom proposes marriage — “Will you marry me?”
And all the people answered with one voice and said: “All the words which Yehovah has spoken we will do.”
The Bride responds with the equivalent of: “Yes; I will marry.”
Moshe wrote all the words of Yehovah. Then he rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. The conditions — the equivalent of a couple’s vows — are put in writing, and the wedding ceremony is prepared.
The Blood Covenant:
Young men from among the children of Israel (not a priestly caste) presented burnt offerings and young bulls as Peace Offerings (not sin sacrifices) to Yehovah.
Moshe took half of the blood and put it on the altar, which represents Yehovah (the Groom).
Then Moshe took the scroll of the covenant and read it to the people (the Bride).
The people responded: “All that Yehovah has said we will do, and we will be obedient.”
Moshe took the other half of the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said: “Behold the blood of the covenant which Yehovah has made with you concerning all these words.”
Then Moshe, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up.
… and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire stone, as clear as the very heavens. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against these privileged ones from among the children of Israel who were allowed to behold Ha-Elohim.
And they ate and drank. What did they eat and drink? The portion that belonged to them from the Peace Offerings they had presented at the foot of the mountain. This is what is normally done when such offerings are presented, according to the instructions in the book of Leviticus.
Thus, the wedding celebration meal took place after the Ceremony of Covenant Acceptance, just as happens at a wedding when, after the vows are made and the couple is declared husband and wife, the guests sit down to eat and celebrate with them.
But in addition, there was also a Blood Covenant according to the legal custom of that time — and this is how our ancestors must have understood it. They knew that such a blood covenant meant they were bound to fulfill it at the cost of their lives if they broke the agreement — which tragically happened only a few days later when they built the golden calf.
Several centuries later, and because this covenant had been broken, Yehovah gave the House of Israel — the Ten Northern Tribes — a certificate of divorce, which gave rise to the need for the suffering Messiah at His first coming.
So how do we apply this today? It is simple, and at the same time very serious: By choosing to accept the authority of Yeshua over our lives, we have renewed that Covenant which was broken in the past by our ancestors. Now we bear the responsibility to obey all those Instructions — TORAH — to which our fathers committed themselves.
At Sinai, the covenant was more than law — it was a sacred union between Yehovah and Israel, sealed with vows, blood, and shared commitment.