John Calvin 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)

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel. These words, it seems to me, are severely distorted by those³¹⁸ who interpret them to mean that the elders were not made participants in the prophetic gift, or that the power of God did not extend to them. For these clauses are to be taken connectedly as follows: although they saw God, His hand was not laid upon them, but they ate and drank.

From this we can gather that God’s paternal favor towards them is indicated by the fact that He spared them. For we must bear in mind what is said elsewhere: There shall no man see my face and live (Exodus 33:20). Thus, among the ancients, this was a kind of proverbial expression: “We shall die, because we have seen God.” So Jacob, in commendation of God’s grace, says, I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved (Genesis 32:30).

For if the mountains melt at the sight of Him, what must necessarily happen to a mortal man, than whom nothing is more frail or feeble? In this, then, God’s incomparable leniency reveals itself when, in manifesting Himself to His elect, He does not altogether absorb and reduce them to nothing, especially when some special vision is presented to them. In sum, therefore, Moses shows us that it was a miracle that the rulers of Israel remained safe and sound, although the terrible majesty of God had appeared to them.

Now, this was the case because they had not rashly thrust themselves forward but had come near at the call of God. From this we learn that our boldness never exceeds its due bounds, nor can be condemned as presumption, when it is founded on the command of God. While worse than any pride or self-confidence is timidity, which, under pretense of modesty, leads us to distrust the word of God. If anyone of the people had attempted to do the same as the rulers, he would have experienced in his destruction what it is to advance beyond bounds. But the reason their free and bold access was successful for the elders was because they obeyed the command of God.

What follows, regarding their eating, I interpret to mean a solemn banquet, which was a part or accompaniment of a sacrifice, as we have seen in connection with Exodus 18³¹⁹ and in many other places.

³¹⁸ So Aben-Ezra, in Willet; and Faigius and S. Munster in Poole. Boothroyal says, “This phrase evidently means, ‘He slew them not;’ compare Genesis 22:12; and ; and 37:22; ; Nehemiah 12:21; ; Esther 2:21; ; Psalms 55:20.”.”

³¹⁹ See ante, , vol. 1, pp. 300, 301..