And he said unto him
Moses said unto the Lord:
if thy presence go not [with me];
or with us, as it may be as well supplied, and which agrees with
what follows:
carry us not up hence;
from the mount to the land of Canaan; though God had promised his
presence, which was the thing requested, Moses could not forbear
expressing himself after this manner, to show the high esteem he
had of this blessing, and how worthless and insignificant
everything else was without it; that even Canaan, the land of
rest promised, was nothing in comparison of it: it is not much
matter where we are, or what we have, if God is not with us; but
if he grants his presence, the greatest hardships in a wilderness
are made easy, and difficulties are got through with pleasure;
though some read the words in the preceding verse by way of
interrogation, "should my face" or "presence go", and "should it
give thee rest" F26? as carrying in it a kind of
denial, which makes Moses here more urgent for it, and such a
version those words seem to require.