Exodus 24:13
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֣קָם
rose up
H6965
וַיָּ֣קָם
rose up
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
1 of 9
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
מְשָֽׁרְת֑וֹ
and his minister
H8334
מְשָֽׁרְת֑וֹ
and his minister
Strong's:
H8334
Word #:
4 of 9
to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
וַיַּ֥עַל
went up
H5927
וַיַּ֥עַל
went up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
5 of 9
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
Cross References
Exodus 33:11And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.Numbers 11:28And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.Exodus 3:1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
Historical Context
Joshua served as Moses' aide from Egypt through wilderness to Canaan's conquest. His presence here begins training for future leadership. Joshua means 'YHWH saves,' the Hebrew equivalent of Greek 'Jesus'—both deliver God's people.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Moses bring Joshua partway up the mountain—what leadership training does this provide?
- How do mountaintop encounters with God throughout Scripture reveal God's pattern of revelation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
Moses takes Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshua, 'YHWH saves')—his assistant and eventual successor. Joshua climbs partway but doesn't enter the cloud (v. 15-18 shows Moses alone in glory). This begins Joshua's preparation for leadership—he observes Moses' intimacy with God. Joshua later meets the Commander of the LORD's army (Joshua 5:13-15)—his own divine encounter. The 'mount of God' (הַר הָאֱלֹהִים, har ha'Elohim) designation shows Sinai's sacred status. Mountains repeatedly serve as divine encounter sites: Moriah (Abraham), Sinai (Moses), Carmel (Elijah), Transfiguration (Jesus). Mountaintops signify meeting between heaven and earth.