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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:9

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended ,.... From the top of the mount in which Jehovah was: and stood at the door of the tabernacle ; where Moses was just entered, and in sight of the people, which was a token of grace and favour both to him and them: and the Lord talked with Moses ; not the cloudy pillar, but the Lord in it, as we rightly supply it: what he talked with him about is not said, very probably concerning the children of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:10

And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door ,.... They being every man at his tent door; and this must be a pleasing sight to them, and give them some hope that God would be merciful to them, forgive their sin, and not depart from them: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door ; not Moses, nor the cloudy pillar, but the Lord in it; it was not a civil bow they made to Moses, and in respect to him, for he was gone into the tabernacle... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face ,.... Not by an angel, but he himself in person; not by a dream or vision, but apparently, in real visible appearance; not in dark speeches, but clearly in plain words, easy to be understood; and not by a voice from heaven at a distance, but mouth to mouth, being very near, as when on the mount, and now at the door of the tabernacle: as a man speaketh unto his friend ; freely, familiarly, plainly, cordially, openly, without any reserve or show... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:1

Unto the land - That is, towards it, or to the borders of it. See Exodus 32:34 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:2

I will send an angel - In Exodus 23:20 , God promises to send an angel to conduct them into the good land, in whom the name of God should be; that is, in whom God should dwell. See Clarke's note on Exodus 23:20 ; (note). Here he promises that an angel shall be their conductor; but as there is nothing particularly specified of him, it has been thought that an ordinary angel is intended, and not that Angel of the Covenant promised before. And this sentiment seems to be confirmed by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:5

Now put off thy ornaments from thee - "The Septuagint, in their translation, suppose that the children of Israel not only laid aside their ear-rings, and such like ornaments, in a time of professed deep humiliation before God, but their upper or more beautiful garments too. Moses says nothing of this last circumstance; but as it is a modern practice, so it appears by their version to have been as ancient as their time, and probably took place long before that. The Septuagint gives us this as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:7

Moses took the tabernacle - האהל אה eth haohel , the Tent; not המשכן את eth hammishcan , the tabernacle, the dwelling-place of Jehovah, see Exodus 36:11 , for this was not as yet erected; but probably the tent of Moses, which was before in the midst of the camp, and to which the congregation came for judgment, and where, no doubt, God frequently met with his servant. This is now removed to a considerable distance from the camp, (two thousand cubits, according to the Talmudists), as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:9

The cloudy pillar descended - This very circumstance precluded the possibility of deception. The cloud descending at these times, and at none others, was a full proof that it was miraculous, and a pledge of the Divine presence. It was beyond the power of human art to counterfeit such an appearance; and let it be observed that all the people saw this, Exodus 33:10 . How many indubitable and irrefragable proofs of its own authenticity and Divine origin does the Pentateuch contain! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:11

The Lord spake unto Moses face to face - That there was no personal appearance here we may readily conceive; and that the communications made by God to Moses were not by visions, ecstasies, dreams, inward inspirations, or the mediation of angels, is sufficiently evident: we may therefore consider the passage as implying that familiarity and confidence with which the Divine Being treated his servant, and that he spake with him by articulate sounds in his own language, though no shape or... read more

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