Exodus 33:12

Moses Intercedes

12 Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, '1Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know 2whom You will send with me. 3Moreover, You have said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.'

Exodus 33:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 33:12

And Moses said unto the Lord
Having returned from the camp to the tabernacle again;

see, thou sayest unto me, bring up this people:
from hence to the land of Canaan, as in ( Exodus 33:1 )

and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me;
to guide and direct him, help and assist him, protect and defend him, and the people with him; he had signified something of this kind, but by some expressions, and by his present conduct, he was at a loss to know who was to go with him: he had told him that the uncreated Angel, in whom his name and he himself were, should go with them; but now it had been declared that he would not go up in the midst of them himself, but send an angel, a created one, but who that was he knew not; he thought he had reason to expect the pillar of the cloud and fire by day and night; but that had had so many motions that he could not be assured of the continuance of it:

yet thou hast said, I know thee by name;
have a particular and special knowledge of thee, and distinguished thee from others, and have a personal affection for thee:

and thou hast also found grace in my sight:
had an interest in his special favour and good will, was acceptable unto him, had received an abundance of spiritual grace, and many very extraordinary gifts from him, and had had many benefits bestowed on him, which were proofs of his being grateful and well pleasing to him.

Exodus 33:12 In-Context

10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent.
11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
12 Then Moses said to the LORD , "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.'
13 "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people."
14 And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest."

Cross References 3

  • 1. Exodus 3:10; Exodus 32:34
  • 2. Exodus 33:2
  • 3. Exodus 33:17
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