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Matthew Henry on Exodus 33:1-6
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 givin…
The Israelites Reproved. (b. c. 1491.)
THE ISRAELITES REPROVED. (B. C. 1491.) Here is, I. The message which God sent by Moses to the children of Israel, signifying the continuance of the displeasure against them, and the bad terms they yet stood upon with Go…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-11
Mercy vailed in judgment. I. GOD'S SEPARATION FROM THE PEOPLE AND ITS EFFECTS. 1. The separation. 2. Its effects. (3) They were troubled by fear of judgment, for the Lord had said, "I will come up into the midst of thee…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-6
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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1
The Lord said unto Moses. In continuation of what he had said in Exodus 32:33, Exodus 32:34, but possibly at another time; and with the object of fully explaining what had been meant in Exodus 32:34. The land which I sw…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-6
The hiding of God's face from man. When God hides away his face from his people, it may be— I. AS A JUDGMENT. It was as a judgment that God separated between himself and man after the Fall, and "drove man forth" from th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-12
A nation in garb of penitence. On this section consider— I. THE CONDITIONED PROMISE (Exodus 33:1-4). God has consented to spare the nation. They are to set out forthwith on the journey to Canaan. But his presence is no…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-32
The restoration to Divine favour completed. This is a chapter which, beginning very gloomily, ends very gloriously. In the beginning Jehovah seems as if bidding farewell to the people for whom he had done so much; but a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:2
I will send an angel before thee. Note the change from "my angel" (Exodus 32:34) to "an angel;" which, however, would still have been ambiguous, but for what follows in Exodus 33:3. The angel of God's presence is "an an…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:3
Unto a land. Exodus 33:2 is parenthetic, and Exodus 33:3 coheres with Exodus 33:1—"Go up hence, thou and the people, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham—unto a land flowing," etc. On the milk and honey of Canaan, s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:4
When the people heard. Moses had communicated to the people what God had said to him. They felt it to be evil tidings—they woke up at last to a feeling of the ineffable value of the privileges which they bad hitherto en…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:5
― For the Lord had said unto Moses, etc. Rather, "And the Lord said unto M." (so most recent commentators, as Keil, Kalisch, etc.) The message was sent to the people after their repentance, and in reply to it. It was no…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:6
The people accepted the test and stripped themselves of their ornaments—i.e; ceased to wear them henceforward. By the Mount Horeb. Rather, "from Mount Horeb." From and after this occurrence at Horeb (= Sinai), the Israe…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 33:7-11
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…
The Tabernacle of the Congregation. (b. c. 1491.)
THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION. (B. C. 1491.) Here is, I. One mark of displeasure put upon them for their further humiliation: Moses took the tabernacle, not his own tent for his family, but the tent wherein he gave…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:7-11
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…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:7
Moses took the tabernacle. The "tabernacle" proper was not yet constructed. (See chs. 35-40.) And the word used is not that properly rendered "tabernacle"—viz; mishkan (Exodus 26:1); but the far more common word 'ohel,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:8
When Moses went out …. all the people rose up. Probably Moses "went out" at a set time, or at set times, each day; and the people watched for his going, and "rose up," as a mark of respect and reverence. They felt that…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:9
As Moses entered into the tabernacle. Rather, "When Moses was gone into the tent." The cloudy pillar descended. It is not quite clear whether this was done once only, or whether the pillar, during the continuance of thi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:9-11
The mode of recovering God's presence. Moses felt that he could not rest till he bad obtained for the people the complete return of God's favour, and the assurance of his perpetual presence. But this was no easy task. T…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:10
And all the people saw … and all the people rose up. This is a literal translation; but it would make the sense clearer to the ordinary reader if the passage were rendered—"And when all the people saw the cloudy pillar…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:11
The Lord spake unto Moses face to face. As one present—not as one at a distance—"month to mouth," as we read in Numbers 12:8—but not under any visible form (see verses 20, 23, and compare Deuteronomy 4:12, Deuteronomy 4…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 33:12-23
Moses is very earnest with God. Thus, by the intercession of Christ, we are not only saved from ruin, but become entitled to everlasting happiness. Observe here how he pleads. We find grace in God's sight, if we find gr…
Moses Petitions to See God's Glory. (b. c. 1491.)
MOSES PETITIONS TO SEE GOD'S GLORY. (B. C. 1491.) Moses, having returned to the door of the tabernacle, becomes a humble and importunate supplicant there for two very great favours, and as a prince he has power with God…