He saith like it, for it was not devouring fire, as appears by Moses's long abode in it. Note here, whatsoever the elders of Israel saw before, the people saw no similitude of God, as Moses observes, Deuteronomy 4:15.
Related Commentaries of Exodus 24:17
Exodus 24:17
17 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.