Exodus 33:1-6

The Journey Resumed

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which ¹I swore to Abraham, ²Isaac, and ³Jacob, saying, '⁴To your descendants I will give it.'

2 "I will send ⁵an angel before you and ⁶I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite.

3 "Go up to a land ⁷flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are ⁸an obstinate * people, and ⁹I might destroy you on the way."

4 When the people heard this sad word, ¹⁰they went into mourning, and none * of them put on his ornaments.

5 For the LORD had said to Moses, "Say to the sons of Israel, 'You are ¹¹an obstinate * people; should I go up in your midst for one moment, I would destroy you. Now therefore, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do with you.' "

6 So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.

Exodus 33:1-6 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

• 1. Exodus 32:13
• 2. Genesis 26:1-3
• 3. Genesis 28:10
• 4. Genesis 12:7
• 5. Exodus 32:34
• 6. Exodus 23:27-31; Joshua 24:11
• 7. Exodus 3:8, 17
• 8. Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:5
• 9. Exodus 32:10
• 10. Numbers 14:1, 39
• 11. Exodus 33:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "seed"
• [b]. Lit "a stiff-necked"
• [c]. Lit "evil"
• [d]. Lit "a stiff-necked"