Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Maundy Thursday
There are 3 days til Easter!
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Commentaries
Exodus 33

Dummelow's Commentary on the BibleDummelow on the Bible

Verses 1-23


The Intercession of Moses (continued)

6. By the mount Horeb] RV ’from mount Horeb onward’: this implies that they ceased wearing their ornaments. Their humiliation was lasting. Horeb] i.e. Sinai: see on Exodus 3:1.

7. Moses took the tabernacle] RV ’Moses used to take the tent,.. and he called it, The tent of meeting’: see on Exodus 25:22. The tent here is most probably not the Tabernacle whose construction is prescribed in Exodus 25-31. The words describe the practice of Moses before its erection, the account of which follows in Exodus 35-40.

9. Descended] from the top of the mount. After the erection of the Tabernacle the cloud rested upon it: see Exodus 40:34-38.

10. Worshipped] bowed themselves to the ground.

11. Face to face] A peculiar privilege: cp. Exodus 19:9; Numbers 12:6-8; Deuteronomy 34:10. Exodus 33:23 shows that the expression ’face to face’ is not to be pressed literally, but to be understood as distinct from a revelation by means of dreams or visions: see especially Numbers 12:6-8. Joshua] see on Exodus 17:9. The priests and Levites were not yet formally consecrated to the service of the sanctuary.

12-17. The promise of God to go with the people is renewed.

12. Thou hast not let me know] The whole of this passage from Exodus 33:7 may be independent of what goes before (cp. the expression ’used to take’ in Exodus 33:7). Otherwise we must suppose that Moses has not clearly understood the meaning of the promise ’I will send an angel before thee’ in Exodus 33:2. I know thee by name] see on Exodus 31:2.

13. Thy way] thy purpose. Thy people] see on Exodus 32:7, Exodus 32:11

14. My presence] lit. ’my face.’ The expression is equivalent to ’myself in person’: cp. e.g. 2 Samuel 17:11, where the words are literally ’and that thy face go into battle.’ The ’angel of God’s presence’ (cp. Isaiah 63:9) is not the angel that stands in the presence of God but in whom the personal presence of God is manifested: see on Exodus 3:2. Will give thee rest] i.e. a peaceful settlement in Canaan: cp. Deuteronomy 3:20; Joshua 21:44; Joshua 23:1.

16. Separated] see on Joshua 19:4-6; Numbers 23:9.

18-23. A divine manifestation asked and promised.

18. Shew me thy glory] What Moses asks, not out of curiosity but as a confirmation of the promise in Exodus 33:14, is impossible. No man can look upon God’s unveiled glory and live (Exodus 33:20: see on Exodus 19:9; Exodus 24:9-11). Even the angels cannot do so (Isaiah 6:2).

19. My goodness] A revelation is vouchsafed, but it is one accommodated to human capacity. It is not further described, but probably consisted in the proclamation in the following chapter, Exodus 33:6, Exodus 33:7. This gracious veiling of the ineffable glory and the revelation of God in mercy are both fuifilled in the person of Christ: see John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6.

23. My back parts] Not the full manifestation of the divine radiance, but its afterglow. The most that human faculties can comprehend of God even in their exalted moments is a faint reflection of His essential glory: cp. 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Bibliographical Information
Dummelow, John. "Commentary on Exodus 33". "Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dcb/exodus-33.html. 1909.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile