Exodus 33:12

Presence and Glory

12 And Moses said to Yahweh, "See, you [are] saying to me, 'Take this people up.' But you have not let me know whom you will send with me, and you yourself have said, 'I know you by name, and you also have found favor in my eyes.'

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 And all the people would see the column of cloud standing [at] the opening of the tent, and all the people would rise and bow in worship, each [at] the opening of his tent.

11 And Yahweh would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his neighbor. And he would return to the camp, and his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the middle of the tent.

12 And Moses said to Yahweh, "See, you [are] saying to me, 'Take this people up.' But you have not let me know whom you will send with me, and you yourself have said, 'I know you by name, and you also have found favor in my eyes.'

13 And now if I have found favor in your eyes, make known [to] me, please, your way, and so I may know you so that I can find favor in your eyes. And see that this nation is your people."

14 And he said, "My presence will go, and I will give you rest."