@Reggie_O_Donoghue,
I have examined Exodus 24:10, and I was just about to agree with your conclusion, when I noted a key issue:
You say that the pavement of sapphire is clearly visible from the peak of the mountain. But, in fact, it seems that verse 10 refers to a view of God attained from below God’s throne!
Exodus 24:11-13 says:
And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
So, while Verse 10 “lacks”, verse 13 clearly “saves”! I can’t quibble over this. It seems pretty clear that by the time we get to verse 13 (“And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.”)… Moses has, indeed, risen above the firmament… and thus not just “into the sky” … but “into Heaven” as modern English might intend it!
Because of the complexity of the situation, I would encourage you to edit that particular line in your post.
Instead of writing this somewhat vague observation:
High mountains reach into heaven. (implication of Exodus 24:10)
I would re-word it to say:
High mountain reaches above the firmament, which is the floor beneath God’s throne in Heaven (Exodus 24:10-13).
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Below are all the leading translations of Exodus 24:10
Exo 24:10
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.
Other Translations for Exo 24:10
NKJV
and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.
NLT
There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.
NIV
and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.
ESV
and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.
CSB
and they saw the God of Israel. Beneath his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.
RVR60
y vieron al Dios de Israel; y había debajo de sus pies como un embaldosado de zafiro, semejante al cielo cuando está sereno.
NASB
and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet [fn]there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, [fn]as clear as the sky itself.
NET
and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself.
RSV
and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.
ASV
And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the very heaven for clearness.
YLT
and they see the God of Israel, and under His feet is as the white work of the sapphire, and as the substance of the heavens for purity;
DBY
and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were work of transparent sapphire, and as it were the form of heaven for clearness.
WEB
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire-stone, and as it were the body of heaven in its clearness.
HNV
They saw the God of Yisra’el. Under his feet was like a paved work of sappir stone, like the skies for clearness.
VUL
et viderunt Deum Israhel sub pedibus eius quasi opus lapidis sapphirini et quasi caelum cum serenum est
WLC
וַיִּרְא֕וּ אֵ֖ת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְתַ֣חַת רַגְלָ֗יו כְּמַעֲשֵׂה֙ לִבְנַ֣ת הַסַּפִּ֔יר וּכְעֶ֥צֶם הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לָטֹֽהַר׃
LXX
καὶ εἶδον τὸν τόπον οὗ εἱστήκει ἐκεῖ ὁ θεὸς τοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ τὰ ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ ἔργον πλίνθου σαπφείρου καὶ ὥσπερ εἶδος στερεώματος τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῇ καθαριότητι