Exodus 33

1 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen vade ascende de loco isto tu et populus tuus quem eduxisti de terra Aegypti in terram quam iuravi Abraham Isaac et Iacob dicens semini tuo dabo eam
2 et mittam praecursorem tui angelum ut eiciam Chananeum et Amorreum et Hettheum et Ferezeum et Eveum et Iebuseum
3 et intres in terram fluentem lacte et melle non enim ascendam tecum quia populus durae cervicis est ne forte disperdam te in via
4 audiens populus sermonem hunc pessimum luxit et nullus ex more indutus est cultu suo
5 dixitque Dominus ad Mosen loquere filiis Israhel populus durae cervicis es semel ascendam in medio tui et delebo te iam nunc depone ornatum tuum ut sciam quid faciam tibi
6 deposuerunt ergo filii Israhel ornatum suum a monte Horeb
7 Moses quoque tollens tabernaculum tetendit extra castra procul vocavitque nomen eius tabernaculum foederis et omnis populus qui habebat aliquam quaestionem egrediebatur ad tabernaculum foederis extra castra
8 cumque egrederetur Moses ad tabernaculum surgebat universa plebs et stabat unusquisque in ostio papilionis sui aspiciebantque tergum Mosi donec ingrederetur tentorium
9 ingresso autem illo tabernaculum foederis descendebat columna nubis et stabat ad ostium loquebaturque cum Mosi
10 cernentibus universis quod columna nubis staret ad ostium tabernaculi stabantque ipsi et adorabant per fores tabernaculorum suorum
11 loquebatur autem Dominus ad Mosen facie ad faciem sicut loqui solet homo ad amicum suum cumque ille reverteretur in castra minister eius Iosue filius Nun puer non recedebat de tabernaculo
12 dixit autem Moses ad Dominum praecipis ut educam populum istum et non indicas mihi quem missurus es mecum praesertim cum dixeris novi te ex nomine et invenisti gratiam coram me
13 si ergo inveni gratiam in conspectu tuo ostende mihi viam tuam ut sciam te et inveniam gratiam ante oculos tuos respice populum tuum gentem hanc
14 dixitque Dominus facies mea praecedet te et requiem dabo tibi
15 et ait Moses si non tu ipse praecedes ne educas nos de loco isto
16 in quo enim scire poterimus ego et populus tuus invenisse nos gratiam in conspectu tuo nisi ambulaveris nobiscum ut glorificemur ab omnibus populis qui habitant super terram
17 dixit autem Dominus ad Mosen et verbum istud quod locutus es faciam invenisti enim gratiam coram me et te ipsum novi ex nomine
18 qui ait ostende mihi gloriam tuam
19 respondit ego ostendam omne bonum tibi et vocabo in nomine Domini coram te et miserebor cui voluero et clemens ero in quem mihi placuerit
20 rursumque ait non poteris videre faciem meam non enim videbit me homo et vivet
21 et iterum ecce inquit est locus apud me stabis super petram
22 cumque transibit gloria mea ponam te in foramine petrae et protegam dextera mea donec transeam
23 tollamque manum meam et videbis posteriora mea faciem autem meam videre non poteris

Exodus 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

The Lord refuses to go with Israel. (1-6) The tabernacle of Moses removed without the camp. (7-11) Moses desires to see the glory of God. (12-23)

Verses 1-6 Those whom God pardons, must be made to know what their sin deserved. "Let them go forward as they are;" this was very expressive of God's displeasure. Though he promises to make good his covenant with Abraham, in giving them Canaan, yet he denies them the tokens of his presence they had been blessed with. The people mourned for their sin. Of all the bitter fruits and consequences of sin, true penitents most lament, and dread most, God's departure from them. Canaan itself would be no pleasant land without the Lord's presence. Those who parted with ornaments to maintain sin, could do no less than lay aside ornaments, in token of sorrow and shame for it.

Verses 7-11 Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp. This seems to have been a temporary building, set up for worship, and at which he judged disputes among the people. The people looked after him; they were very desirous to be at peace with God, and concerned to know what would come to pass. The cloudy pillar which had withdrawn from the camp when it was polluted with idolatry, now returned. If our hearts go forth toward God to meet him, he will graciously come to meet us.

Verses 12-23 Moses is very earnest with God. Thus, by the intercession of Christ, we are not only saved from ruin, but become entitled to everlasting happiness. Observe here how he pleads. We find grace in God's sight, if we find grace in our hearts to guide and quicken us in the way of our duty. Moses speaks as one who dreaded the thought of going forward without the Lord's presence. God's gracious promises, and mercy towards us, should not only encourage our faith, but also excite our fervency in prayer. Observe how he speeds. See, in a type, Christ's intercession, which he ever lives to make for all that come to God by him; and that it is not by any thing in those for whom he intercedes. Moses then entreats a sight of God's glory, and is heard in that also. A full discovery of the glory of God, would overwhelm even Moses himself. Man is mean, and unworthy of it; weak, and could not bear it; guilty, and could not but dread it. The merciful display which is made in Christ Jesus, alone can be borne by us. The Lord granted that which would abundantly satisfy. God's goodness is his glory; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy, more than by the glory of his majesty. Upon the rock there was a fit place for Moses to view the goodness and glory of God. The rock in Horeb was typical of Christ the Rock; the Rock of refuge, salvation, and strength. Happy are they who stand upon this Rock. The cleft may be an emblem of Christ, as smitten, crucified, wounded, and slain. What follows, denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state, even as revealed in Christ; for this, when compared with the heavenly sight of him. is but like seeing a man that is gone by, whose back only is to be seen. God in Christ, as he is, even the fullest and brightest displays of his glory, grace, and goodness, are reserved to another state.

Chapter Summary

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.

Exodus 33 Commentaries

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.