When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the Lord, they all answered with one voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has told us.” 4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the Lord and, rising early in the morning, he built at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve sacred stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then, having sent young men of the Israelites to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice young bulls as communion offerings to the Lord, 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. 7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the Lord has said, we will hear and do.” 8 Then he took the blood and splashed it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”
This passage recounts the solemn covenant ceremony between God and Israel at Mount Sinai. Moses, acting as the mediator, proclaims all the words and ordinances of the Lord to the people, who unanimously affirm their willingness to obey (v. 3). He then writes down the divine commands, builds an altar representing God's presence, and sets up twelve pillars symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel (v. 4). Sacrifices are offered, and the blood is divided: half is splashed on the altar (signifying God's presence), and the other half is sprinkled on the people (v. 6, 8). This ritual, often referred to as the "blood of the covenant," seals the sacred bond between God and Israel. By this act, Israel is consecrated as God’s holy people, bound to Him in an irrevocable covenant that demands their fidelity (Exodus 19:5-6; 24:8).
Blood, in biblical theology, symbolizes life (Lev. 17:11). The blood sprinkled on both the altar and the people indicates a shared life between God and Israel, establishing a sacred communion. This covenant marks Israel’s formal acceptance as God’s chosen people, bound by obedience to His law (cf. Deut. 26:17–19). The phrase “the blood of the covenant” is key, as it signifies the permanent nature of God’s promise and Israel’s responsibility to remain faithful. Yet, because of human sin, Israel’s repeated failures foreshadow the need for a greater covenant, one that would be perfectly fulfilled in Christ (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-13).
This Old Testament covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who, at the Last Supper, declared: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you" (Lk. 22:20). Just as Moses mediated the Sinai covenant through sacrificial blood, Christ, the true Mediator (Heb. 9:15), ratifies the New Covenant with His own blood, shed on the Cross (Mt. 26:28; Mk. 14:24). Unlike the Old Covenant, which required continual sacrifices, Christ’s sacrifice is final and complete, offering eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12).
Whereas the Mosaic covenant depended on the people's obedience to the Law, the New Covenant in Christ establishes a deeper, interior transformation, written on the hearts of believers (Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:6–13). Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant, Christ's sacrifice is once-for-all, securing eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12).
The sprinkling of blood in Exodus 24 foreshadows Christ’s atoning sacrifice, which reconciles humanity to God (Romans 5:9). Just as Israel was consecrated as God's people through the blood of the covenant, believers are redeemed, sanctified, and incorporated into God’s family through the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19). This covenant is not limited to Israel alone; through Christ, Gentiles are also brought into this divine relationship, becoming heirs of God’s promise (Gal. 3:29; Eph. 2:13-14).
The community of believers, as the new Israel, enters into communion with God through Christ’s sacrifice, especially in the sharing of the bread, a sign of unity and participation in Christ (1 Cor. 10:16–17). This participation is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, where the redeemed will share in the fullness of God’s covenant promise (Rev. 19:9).
Moses’ covenant involved the blood of animals, but Christ offered His own blood to purify our consciences and grant access to God (Heb. 9:13–14). Furthermore, Hebrews 12:24 contrasts the blood of Christ with that of Abel, showing that Christ’s blood speaks of mercy, reconciliation, and eternal life, bringing to fulfillment God's plan of salvation. Christ established a new and everlasting covenant (Lk. 22:20), not written on stone, but on the hearts of His people (2 Cor. 3:6; Heb. 13:20), drawing all humanity into true communion with God.
Almighty God, You sealed Your covenant with Israel through the blood of sacrifice, foreshadowing the perfect sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through His blood, You have redeemed us and drawn us into communion with You. Strengthen our hearts to remain faithful to Your covenant, and deepen our love for Christ, who offered Himself for our salvation. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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