Exodus 33:11

_AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS MOSES ENTERED INTO THE TABERNACLE, THE CLOUDY PILLAR DESCENDED, AND STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE, AND THE LORD TALKED WITH MOSES._ The cloudy pillar descended. How would the downcast hearts of the people revive-how would the tide of joy swell in every bosom, when the symbolic cloud was seen slowly and majestically to descend and stand at the entrance of the tabernacle! AS MOSES ENTERED INTO THE TABERNACLE, this well-known symbol appeared-a visible token of the divine approval of what Moses did. It was when he appeared as their mediator-when he repaired from day to day to intercede for them-that welcome token of assurance was given that his advocacy prevailed, that Israel's sin was forgiven, and that God would again be gracious. Verse 11. THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES FACE TO FACE. Yahweh who thus spoke was the Revealing Angel-the Second Person in the Trinit...

11._And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face _Moses will hereafter be dignified by this distinction, where God would declare the difference between him and other Prophets. (Numbers 12:8.) Familiar intercourse is therefore described in this phrase, as if it were said that God appeared to Moses by an extraordinary mode of revelation. If any object that there is a contradiction between this statement and what we shall presently see, “Thou canst not see my face,” the solution is easy, viz., that although God revealed Himself to Moses in a peculiar manner, still He never appeared in the fullness of His glory, but only so far as man’s infirmity could endure. For this expression contains an implied comparison, _i.e., _that no man was ever equal to Moses, or arrived at such a pitch of dignity. And this tends to magnify the Law, that Moses its minister reported what he had familiafly le

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 The cloudy pillar which had withdrawn from the camp when it was polluted with idolatry, now returned.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....

Verse Exodus 33:11. _THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES FACE TO FACE_] That there was no personal appearance here we may readily conceive; and that the communications made by God to Moses were not by _visions,_ _ecstacies, dreams, inward inspirations_, or the _mediation of_ _angels_, is sufficiently evident: we may therefore consider the passage as implying that _familiarity_ and _confidence_ with which the Divine Being treated his servant, and that he spake with him by articulate sounds in his own language, though no _shape_ or _similitude_ was then to be seen. _JOSHUA, THE SON OF NUN, A YOUNG MAN_] There is a difficulty here. Joshua certainly was not a young man in the _literal_ sense of the word; "but he was called so," says Mr. Ainsworth, "In respect of his _service_, not of his _years_; for he was now abov

FACE TO FACE - See Exodus 33:20 note....

EXPOSITION THE FIRST ERECTION OF A TABERNACLE. The decision of the matter still hung in suspense. God had not revoked his threat to withdraw himself and leave the host to the conduct of an angel. He had merely reserved his final decision (Exodus 33:5). Moses was anxious to wrestle with him in prayer until he obtained the reversal of this sentence; but he could not be always ascending Sinai, when the camp needed his superintending care, and the camp as yet contained no place of worship, where a man could pray and be secure against disturbance. Moses, under these circumstances, with the tabernacle in his mind, but without leisure to construct it, contrived "for the present distress" a temporary tabernacle or tent. He took, apparently, the tent that had hitherto been his own, and re

AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES FACE TO FACE,.... Not by an angel, but he himself in person; not by a dream or vision, but apparently, in real visible appearance; not in dark speeches, but clearly in plain words, easy to be understood; and not by a voice from heaven at a distance, but mouth to mouth, being very near, as when on the mount, and now at the door of the tabernacle: AS A MAN SPEAKETH UNTO HIS FRIEND; freely, familiarly, plainly, cordially, openly, without any reserve or show of authority, or causing dread and fear; for he also spake to the children of Israel "face to face", but then it was out of the fire in a terrible manner which they could not bear, Deuteronomy 5:4 AND HE TURNED AGAIN INTO THE CAMP; to acquaint the people, the heads and elders of them, what discourse he had with God, what success he had met with on their behalf, and how

5. MOSES' INTERCESSION AND ITS RESULTS CHAPTER 33 Repentance and Intercession _ 1. The word of the Lord and the people's repentance (Exodus 33:1)_ 2. The tabernacle without the camp (Exodus 33:7) 3. Moses enters the tabernacle (Exodus 33:8) 4. Moses' prayer and Jehovah's answers (Exodus 33:12) 5. Moses' request (Exodus 33:18) The words of the Lord, with which this chapter begins, reveal Him as the covenant-keeping Jehovah. He remembers His covenant, though they are a stiff-necked people. Yet He is a holy Go

EXODUS 33:1 J, EXODUS 33:5 E, EXODUS 33:12 J. YAHWEH'S PRESENCE. The sections of 34 have been glossed and disarranged. In Exodus 33:1 J, Yahweh's refusal to go up in the midst of Israel leads the people to put off their ornaments. In Exodus 33:5 f. follows from E Yahweh's order to put off ornaments and its execution. This may have been connected with the construction of the sacred Tent which is assumed as known in Exodus 33:7, the details being dropped in view of Exodus

THE LORD SPAKE. See note on Exodus 6:10, and compare note on Exodus 3:7. FACE TO FACE. To emphasise the communion in the presence of corporate failure; this must ever be individual and personal. SERVANT. personal attendant, as in Exodus 24:13. Hebrew n'ar, rendered "servant '. 2 Samuel 19:17; 2 Kings 5:20; Nehemiah 5:10, &c.. assistant. JOSHUA. See Exodus 17: