He laid not his hand - i. e. He did not strike them. It was believed that a mortal could not survive the sight of God Exodus 33:20; Genesis 32:30; Judges 6:22; Judges 13:22 : but these rulers of Israel were permitted to eat and drink, while they were enjoying in an extraordinary degree the sense of the divine presence, and received no harm.
Related Commentaries of Exodus 24:11
Exodus 24:11
11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.