33:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, [and] a go up
hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out
of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will
I give it:
(a) The land of Canaan was surrounded by hills: so those
who entered it, must go up by the hills.
33:5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of
Israel, Ye [are] a stiffnecked people: I will come up into
the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore
now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know b
what to do unto thee.
(b) That I may either show mercy if you repent, or else
punish your rebellion.
33:7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the
camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the c
Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, [that]
every one which sought the LORD went out unto the
tabernacle of the congregation, which [was] without the
camp.
(c) That is, the tabernacle of the congregation: so called
because the people turned to it, when they needed to be
instructed of the Lord's will.
33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses d face to face, as a man
speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the
camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man,
departed not out of the tabernacle.
33:12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me,
Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom
thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by
e name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
(e) I care for you and will preserve you in your calling.
33:14 And he said, My f presence shall go [with thee], and I
will give thee rest.
(f) Signifying that the Israelites would exceed all other
people, through God's favour; (Ex 33:16).
33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy g glory.
(g) Your face, your substance, and your majesty.
33:19 And he said, I will make all my h goodness pass before
thee, and I will i proclaim the name of the LORD before
thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and
will shew k mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
(h) My mercy and fatherly care.
(i) See (Ex 34:6,7).
(k) For finding nothing in man that deserves mercy, he
will freely give his.
33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall
no man see me, and l live.
(l) For Moses did not see his face in full majesty, but as
man's weakness could bear.
33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, [there is] a place by m me,
and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
(m) In mount Horeb.
33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my n
back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
(n) As much of my glory as in this mortal life you are
able to see.
