XXXIII. THE HUMILIATION OF THE PEOPLE AT THE THREAT OF GOD’S WITHDRAWAL. (1-6) If God consented at all to renew His covenant with the people, after they had so flagrantly broken it, the terms on which He would renew it were, in strict justice, purely optional. In the “Book of the Covenant” He had pr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES. — In continuation and explanation of the words recorded in Exodus 32:33, but probably at another time, after Moses had once more descended from the Ras Sufsafeh to the plain at its base. THE LAND WHICH I SWARE UNTO ABRAHAM... — The misconduct of Israel in their worship of... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEND AN ANGEL BEFORE THEE. — “An angel” is ambiguous. It might designate the Angel of the Covenant, the Angel of God’s presence, as in Exodus 23:20; or it might mean a mere ordinary angel, on a par with those who presided over the destinies of other nations besides the Hebrews (Daniel 10:13;... [ Continue Reading ]
A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY. — See Note on Exodus 3:8. LEST I CONSUME THEE. — Comp. Exodus 32:10; Leviticus 10:2; Ps. 88:21, 31, &c. “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). His near presence, if it does not cleanse and purify, scorches and withers. The conduct of Israel in the wilderness... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PEOPLE HEARD THESE EVIL TIDINGS, THEY MOURNED. — It was something that the people felt the tidings to be “evil.” It is natural for sinful men to shrink from the near presence of God (Matthew 8:34; Luke 5:8); and so the Israelites had shrunk from it a short time previously (Exodus 20:19). Ev... [ Continue Reading ]
(5)FOR THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO MOSES. — Rather, _And the Lord said unto Moses._ The message did not precede the repentance of the people, but followed it. I WILL COME UP INTO THE MIDST OF THEE IN A MOMENT, AND CONSUME THEE. — Rather, _were I to go up in the midst of thee, even for a moment_ (a brief... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL STRIPPED THEMSELVES OF THEIR ORNAMENTS — _i.e.,_ left off their ornaments, ceased to wear them altogether. BY THE MOUNT HOREB. — Rather, _from mount Horeb, i.e.,_ from the time of their first discarding them in Horeb (= Sinai).... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES TOOK THE TABERNACLE. — Rather, _Moses took his tent._ The Hebrew article, like the Greek, has often the force of the possessive pronoun. The LXX. translate λαβὼν Μωυσῆς τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ; and so Jarchi, Aben-Ezra, Kurtz, Kalisch, Keil, Cook, &c. AND PITCHED IT WITHOUT THE CAMP. — Heb., _and pi... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES ESTABLISHES A TEMPORARY TABERNACLE. (7-11) Moses, having experienced the blessedness of solitary communion with God during the forty days spent on Sinai, felt now, as he had never felt before, the want of a “house of God,” whither he might retire for prayer and meditation, secure of being und... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MOSES WENT OUT... ALL THE PEOPLE ROSE UP. — As a mark of respect and reverence. (Comp. Esther 5:9.) THE CLOUDY PILLAR DESCENDED. — During the stay of the Israelites in the plain at the foot of Sinai, the ordinary place occupied by the pillar of the cloud was the summit of the mount (Exodus 19:1... [ Continue Reading ]
FACE TO FACE. — Comp. Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 34:10. This is clearly spoken of as a privilege peculiar to Moses; but in what exactly the peculiarity consisted is not apparent. Some special closeness of approach is no doubt meant — some nearness such as had been enjoyed by no mortal previously. In... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST NOT LET ME KNOW WHOM THOU WILT SEND. — Moses finds the promises of Exodus 32:34; Exodus 33:2 ambiguous. What is meant by “mine angel” and “an angel?” Is it the “Angel” of Exodus 23:20, or no? If not, who is it? I KNOW THEE BY NAME. — God had shown this knowledge when He called on Moses out... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES OBTAINS A RENEWAL OF GOD’S PROMISE TO GO UP WITH THE PEOPLE. (12-17) The self-humiliation of the people (Exodus 33:4) had appeased God’s anger. He was now ready to be entreated. Moses therefore renews his supplications on their behalf, and especially prays for a revocation of the threatened w... [ Continue Reading ]
SHEW ME NOW THY WAY — i.e., Thy course — Thy intention. Let me know if Thou really intendest to withdraw Thyself from us, and put a created being in Thy place or no. CONSIDER THAT THIS NATION IS THY PEOPLE. — Moses glances back at God’s words recorded in Exodus 32:7, and reminds God that the Israel... [ Continue Reading ]
MY PRESENCE SHALL GO WITH THEE. — There is no “with thee” in the original, and consequently the phrase is ambiguous. Moses could not tell whether it was a personal promise to himself, or a renewal of the old engagement to go with the people. He consequently requires something more explicit. Will God... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL DO THIS THING ALSO THAT THOU HAST SPOKEN. — At length the promise is unambiguously given. Moses is rewarded for his importunity. God’s people have found grace in His sight. He will “go up” with them, and so “separate them,” or distinguish them, from “all the people that are on the face of the... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES’ REQUEST TO SEE GOD’S GLORY, AND GOD’S REPLY TO IT. (18-23) Not till he had received full assurance of the people’s restoration to favour did Moses prefer any request for himself. Then, however, he made use of the privilege granted him to speak with God, “as a man speaketh unto his friend,” in... [ Continue Reading ]
I will make all my goodness pass before thee. — It is not clear how this was fulfilled. Perhaps, as God announced His name — “the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” &c. (Exodus 34:6) — a revelation of God’s ineffable goodness was miraculou... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A PLACE BY ME. — A place on the summit of Sinai, where God had been manifesting Himself, is clearly intended; but it is impossible to fix the place with any certainty. Speculations like those of Dr. Robinson (_Biblical Researches,_ Vol. 1, p. 153) are of little value.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WILL COVER THEE WITH MY HAND. — Kalisch observes with justice that the mysteriousness of this obscure section “attains its highest climax in the three last verses” (Exodus 33:21). Human language is, by its very nature, unfit for the expression of sublime spiritual truths, and necessarily clothes... [ Continue Reading ]