Albert Barnes Commentary Exodus 24:11

"And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: and they beheld God, and did eat and drink." — Exodus 24:11 (ASV)

He laid not his hand – that is, He did not strike them. It was believed that a mortal could not survive the sight of God (Exodus 33:20; Genesis 32:30; Judges 6:22; Judges 13:22): but these rulers of Israel were permitted to eat and drink, while they were enjoying in an extraordinary degree the sense of the divine presence, and received no harm.