Exodus 33

People's Mourning and Response Exodus 33:4–6

⁴Verse 4. When the people heard this evil news, they mourned: and no one put on his jewelry. ⁵Verse 5. Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’” ⁶Verse 6. The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

The Tent of Meeting Exodus 33:7–10

⁷Verse 7. Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. ⁸Verse 8. When Moses went out to the Tent, all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent. ⁹Verse 9. When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses. ¹⁰Verse 10. All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door.

Moses' Intercession Exodus 33:11–14

¹¹Verse 11. Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent. ¹²Verse 12. Moses said to Yahweh, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people:’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ ¹³Verse 13. Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your way, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people.”

¹⁴Verse 14. He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Importance of God's Presence Exodus 33:15–17

¹⁵Verse 15. He said to him, “If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here. ¹⁶Verse 16. For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?” ¹⁷Verse 17. Yahweh said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Desire to See God's Glory Exodus 33:18–20

¹⁸Verse 18. He said, “Please show me your glory.” ¹⁹Verse 19. He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim Yahweh’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” ²⁰Verse 20. He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.”

God's Revelation to Moses Exodus 33:21–23

²¹Verse 21. Yahweh also said, “Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock. ²²Verse 22. It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; ²³Verse 23. then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”