Exodus 33:3

_UNTO A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY: FOR I WILL NOT GO UP IN THE MIDST OF THEE; FOR THOU ART A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE: LEST I CONSUME THEE IN THE WAY._ I will not go up in the midst of thee ... lest I consume thee in the way. Since their deep-rooted prepossessions for idolatry would certainly manifest themselves by some new breach of the covenant, the continued presence and favour of their Heavenly King would only aggravate their guilt, and lead to their speedy destruction. In consequence of their perverseness, therefore, He deemed it expedient and necessary to abandon the immediate superintendence; and thus even in His judgment He remembered mercy. Here the Lord is represented as determined to do what He afterward did not (see the note at Exodus 32:10)....

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....

Verse Exodus 33:3. _I WILL NOT GO UP IN THE MIDST OF THEE_] Consequently, the angel here promised to be their guide was not that angel in whom Jehovah's name was: and so the people understood it; hence the mourning which is afterwards mentioned....

See Exodus 3:8. FOR I WILL NOT GO UP IN THE MIDST OF THEE - The covenant on which the original promise Exodus 23:20 was based had been broken by the people. Yahweh now therefore declared that though His Angel should go before Moses, He would withhold His own favoring presence. The nation should be put on a level with other nations, to lose its character as the people in special covenant with Yahweh (see the note at Exodus 33:16). Thus were the people forcibly warned that His presence could prove a blessing to them only on condition of their keeping their part of the covenant Exodus 33:3

EXPOSITION THE THREAT OF GOD'S WITHDRAWAL, AND THE HUMILIATION OF THE PEOPLE. The intercession of Moses, and his offer to sacrifice himself for his people had obtained from God some great concessions, viz.— 1. That the people's lives should be spared (Exodus 32:14); 2. And that they should be led into Palestine (Exodus 32:34) But a change had been introduced into the conditions under which the future journeys were to be made, somewhat obscurely indicated in the words—"Behold, mine angel shall go before thee" (_ibid._)—which was now to be more distinctly set

UNTO A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY,.... Abounding with all the necessaries and good things of life, a description of the land of Canaan frequently made, see Exodus 3:8: FOR I WILL NOT GO UP IN THE MIDST OF THEE; would not grant them his presence in so near, visible, and respectable a manner as he had before done, though he would not utterly forsake them: the tabernacle was before in the midst of the camp, that is, that which was erected until the large one, ordered to be made, was finished, but now it was removed without the camp, Exodus 33:7 FOR THOU ART A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE; Exodus 32:9: LEST I CONSUME THEM IN THE WAY; in the way to the land of Canaan, and so never get th

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

MILK AND HONEY. all kinds of good things. Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of Species), App-6....

Jehovah commands Moses to lead the people on to Canaan, but refuses to go with them personally Himself....