6
So after leaving Mount Horeb the Israelites rid themselves of their jewelry.
Speaking with the LORD at the meeting tent
7 Moses took the tent and pitched it outside the camp, far away from the camp. He called it the meeting tent. Everyone who wanted advice from the LORD would go out to the meeting tent outside the camp.
8
Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand at the entrance to their tents and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.
9
When Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down and stand at the tent's entrance while the LORD talked with Moses.
10
When all the people saw the column of cloud standing at the tent's entrance, they would all rise and then bow down at the entrances to their tents.
11
In this way the LORD used to speak to Moses face-to-face, like two people talking to each other. Then Moses would come back to the camp. But his young assistant Joshua, Nun's son, wouldn't leave the tent.
Moses pleads with God
12 Moses said to the LORD, "Look, you've been telling me, ‘Lead these people forward.' But you haven't told me whom you will send with me. Yet you've assured me, ‘I know you by name and think highly of you.'
13
Now if you do think highly of me, show me your ways so that I may know you and so that you may really approve of me. Remember too that this nation is your people."
14
The LORD replied, "I'll go myself, and I'll help you."
15
Moses replied, "If you won't go yourself, don't make us leave here.
16
Because how will anyone know that we have your special approval, both I and your people, unless you go with us? Only that distinguishes us, me and your people, from every other people on the earth."