God Orders Israel to Depart Sinai
Exodus 33, verse 1. Now the Lord said to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people you brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your seed I will give it.’ Exodus 33, verse 2. I will send My Angel before your face, and I will drive out the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Gergesite, the Hivite, the Jebusite, and the Canaanite. Exodus 33, verse 3. I will bring you into a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” Exodus 33, verse 4. When the people heard this bad news, they mourned in lamentations. Exodus 33, verse 5. For the Lord said to the children of Israel, “You are a stiff-necked people. Beware, lest I inflict another plague on you and consume you. Now therefore, take off your bright clothes and ornaments, and I will show you what I will do.” Exodus 33, verse 6. So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their bright clothes and ornaments by Mount Horeb.
Moses before the Lord
Exodus 33, verse 7. Moses then took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of testimony. Thus it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of testimony, which was outside the camp. Exodus 33, verse 8. So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, which was outside the camp, all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he went into the tabernacle. Exodus 33, verse 9. Now it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and God talked to Moses. Exodus 33, verse 10. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man at his tent door. Exodus 33, verse 11. Thus the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
God Promises His Presence
Exodus 33, verse 12. Then Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you above all, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Exodus 33, verse 13. Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, reveal Yourself to me, that I may see You clearly and find grace in Your sight, and know this great nation is Your people.” Exodus 33, verse 14. So He said, “I Myself will go before you and give you rest.” Exodus 33, verse 15. Then he said to Him, “If You Yourself do not go up with us, do not bring us up from here. Exodus 33, verse 16. For how then will it be known that Your people and I found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So both I and Your people shall be glorified beyond all the nations on the earth.” Exodus 33, verse 17. The Lord then said to Moses, “I will also do this thing you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you above all.” Exodus 33, verse 18. Moses replied, “Reveal Yourself to me.” Exodus 33, verse 19. Then God said, “I will pass before you in My glory, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, before you. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Exodus 33, verse 20. But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man can see My face and live.” Exodus 33, verse 21. Moreover, the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me: you shall stand on the rock. Exodus 33, verse 22. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Exodus 33, verse 23. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”