Exodus 33:6-16

6 Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.

The Tent of Meeting

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and 1he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who 2sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.
8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and 3each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.
9 When Moses entered the tent, the 4pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD [a] would speak with Moses.
10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.
11 Thus 5the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his 6assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Moses' Intercession

12 Moses said to the LORD, "See, 7you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 8'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'
13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please 9show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is 10your people."
14 And he said, 11"My presence will go with you, and 12I will give you rest."
15 And he said to him, 13"If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.
16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? 14Is it not in your going with us, 15so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"

Exodus 33:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 33

This chapter informs us, that the Lord refusing to go with the people, only sending an angel with them, they are filled with concern, and troubled, Ex 33:1-6. Moses upon this pitched the tabernacle without the camp, where everyone that sought the Lord went; Moses entered into it himself, and the Lord talked to him in a friendly manner in the cloudy pillar that stood at the door of it, and the people worshipped, every man at his own tent door; all which foreboded good, and tended to reconciliation, Ex 33:7-11. Moses improved the opportunity, and entreats the presence of God to go with them, which was granted, Ex 33:12-17 and that he might have a sight of the glory of God; and this is promised to pass before him, he being put into the cleft of the rock, Ex 33:18-23.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Exodus 29:42, 43
  • 2. Deuteronomy 4:29; 2 Samuel 21:1; 1 Chronicles 16:10, 11; Psalms 40:16
  • 3. [Numbers 16:27]
  • 4. See Exodus 13:21
  • 5. Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 34:10; See Genesis 32:30
  • 6. Exodus 17:9, 10; Exodus 24:13; Exodus 32:17
  • 7. Exodus 32:34
  • 8. ver. 17
  • 9. Psalms 25:4; [Psalms 103:7]
  • 10. Deuteronomy 9:29; [Joel 2:17]
  • 11. Joshua 1:5; Isaiah 63:9; See Exodus 40:34-38
  • 12. Deuteronomy 3:20; Joshua 21:44; Joshua 22:4; Joshua 23:1; [Psalms 95:11]
  • 13. [ver. 1-3]
  • 14. Numbers 14:14
  • 15. Exodus 19:5, 6; 1 Kings 8:53

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.