Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

and as the time of absence was to be a long one, the leader had appointed
Aaron and Hur, assisted by the elders, to act in his stead, giving them the
injunction, "Tarry ye here, until I come again unto you." "And Moses went
up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord
abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh
day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the
glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount, in the eyes
of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat
him up into the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty
nights."
Even Moses could not go up at once into the mount; for he could not
immediately approach so nigh unto God and endure the exhibitions of his
glory. Six days was he preparing to meet with God. His common thoughts
and feelings must be put away. During six days he was devoting his thoughts
to God, and sanctifying himself by meditation and prayer, before he could be
prepared to converse with his Maker.
The Lord then gave Moses directions for the building of a sanctuary, in
which the divine presence would be specially manifested; he also gave
further instructions in regard to the Sabbath. Finally there was delivered to
Moses, by the hand of Divine Majesty, the testimony, or ten commandments,
engraven on two tables of stone.
But while Moses was thus receiving instruction from God, the people
were corrupting themselves at the foot of the mount. The mixed multitude
that came from Egypt with the Israelites were the principal movers in this
dreadful departure from God. They were called a mixed multitude, because
the Hebrews had intermarried with the Egyptians.
The people had seen Moses ascend the mount and enter the cloud, while
the summit of the mountain was all in flames. They watched for his return;
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