EXODUS 24 - The Structure and lesson of the chapter

We can dissect Chapter 24, the ratification and the celebration of “Brit Sinai”, in several manners – by subject, wording, comparative, and location. By subject matter, the chapter contains three sections:
a) Verses 1-2: G-d commands Moshe to ascend with the elders. They will climb halfway up the mountain; Moshe will reach the summit alone.
b) Verses 3-11: The ceremony of “Brit Sinai” – the ratification and celebration that accompanied Matan Torah.
c) Verses 12-end: Moshe ascends the mountain again, this time for 40 days, to receive the luchot (tablets) from G-d.

By wording, we see the word A.L.H. (to go up) repeat seven times. This word, identified as a leitwort (key word), and appears in all three sections. The word reiterates the nature of the giving of the Torah. It comes from heaven. Man goes upwards to receive it.

Comparatively, our chapter parallels chapter 19, preceding the Giving of the Torah, as the chart shows.
BETWEEN CHAPTER 19 & CHAPTER 24
The word A.L.H. repeats 7 times./The word A.L.H. repeats 7 times.
B’nei Yisrael say we will do (nishma)/B’nei Yisrael say we will do (nishma)
The chapter begins with Moshe’s ascent up the mountain./The chapter begins with Moshe’s ascent up the mountain.
G-d comes down upon the mountain./G-d comes down (rests) upon the mountain.
The cloud appears to demonstrate G-d’s presence on the mountain./The cloud appears to demonstrate G-d’s presence on the mountain.
G-d calls to Moshe to give him Torah./G-d calls to Moshe to give him Torah.
The people are described as unified when accepting the covenant’s terms./The people are described as unified when accepting the covenant’s terms.

These parallels, among other reasons, leads Rashi to interpret that chapter 19 and chapter 24 are the same story. While Ramban and others disagree, (and we shall deal with this in another article), everyone acknowledges the clear similarities.

We can understand another level of meaning by analyzing the location of each of the protagonists. Characters are either on top of the mountain, halfway up the mountain, or waiting below. The order of their appearance is chiastic, as seen below.
A - MOSHE is commanded to ascend (24:1).
B - The LEADERS will ascend to a specified distance only (24:1).
A - MOSHE alone will approach God (24:2).
B - The LEADERS will not approach (24:2).
C - The PEOPLE will not ascend at all (24:2).
C - The PEOPLE remain at the mountain bottom and celebrate the covenant ceremony (24:3-8).
B - The LEADERS ascends to the specified distance (24:9-11).
A - MOSHE is commanded to ascend to God (24:12).
B - MOSHE takes leave of the LEADERS at a certain point (24:13-14).
A - MOSHE ascends alone and enters into the cloud (24:15-18).
What message does this structure teach? Like most chiastic structures, this focuses the reader’s attention on the center. If so, we learn an important lesson. While Moshe (and, to a lesser extant, the leadership) may reach dizzying individual heights, their success will be judged on one factor alone; their ability to bring the Torah down to the people. When that fails, they will be told “Go down, for your people have become corrupt.” The accomplishments of individuals are peripheral to be ability of the people to maintain the covenant that falls in the center of our chapter.