Exo 24:4 | NETfull | STEP | and Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord . Early in the morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain and arranged twelve standing stones – according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Exodus 24:4

4 and Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Early in the morning he built ^{▼▼ The two preterites quite likely form a verbal hendiadys (the verb “to get up early” is frequently in such constructions). Literally it says, “and he got up early [in the morning] and he built”; this means “early [in the morning] he built.” The first verb becomes the adverb.} an altar at the foot ^{▼▼ “under.”} of the mountain and arranged ^{▼▼ The verb “arranged” is not in the Hebrew text but has been supplied to clarify exactly what Moses did with the twelve stones.} twelve standing stones ^{▼▼ The thing numbered is found in the singular when the number is plural – “twelve standing-stone.” See GKC 433 #134.f. The “standing-stone” could be a small piece about a foot high, or a huge column higher than men. They served to commemorate treaties (Gen 32), or visions (Gen 28) or boundaries, or graves. Here it will function with the altar as a place of worship.} – according to the twelve tribes of Israel.