Matthew Henry on Exodus 33:1-6

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

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.

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commentaryThe 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…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-12A 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…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-32The 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…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-6EXPOSITION 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…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1The 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…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-6The 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…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:1-11Mercy 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…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 33:2I 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…Joseph S. Exell and contributors