Exodus 33:1-4 NASB

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 sware unto Abraham . See Genesis 12:7 ; Genesis 13:15 ; Genesis 15:18 , etc. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1

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 at the close he is seen giving a revelation to Moses their leader, which must have sent him forth to resume his arduous work with greater encouragements than he ever had before. It is therefore very interesting to trace how this change was brought about. I. WE SEE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-6

1 . That the people's lives should be spared ( Exodus 32:14 ); 2 . And that they should be led into Palestine ( Exodus 32:34 ) But a change had been introduced into the conditions under which the future journeys were to be made, somewhat obscurely indicated in the words—"Behold, mine angel shall go before thee" ( ibid. )—which was now to be more distinctly set forth. "God's angel" may mean his Presence in the Person of his Son—as it appears to mean in Exodus 23:20-23 —or it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 the Garden of Eden ( Genesis 3:24 ). It was as a judgment that he withdrew from Saul, and "answered him not, neither by dreams, by Urim, nor by prophets" ( 1 Samuel 28:6 ). When he "hid his face" from David, and forgot all his misery and trouble, it was because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 in a moment and consume thee." These are the effects of the Spirit's work to-day. The same cry is lifted:—"Flee from the wrath to come." II. THE SEPARATION OF GOD 'S PEOPLE FROM THE MIDST OF SURROUNDING SIN AND... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 longer to go with them. He would send an angel. Notice— 1 . Everything, in one sense, remains the same . The people are to be conducted to Canaan. They are to inherit the promises. God will drive out their enemies before them. The land will still flow... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 angel" in Exodus 23:20 . I will drive out . The whole covenant had fallen with Israel's infraction of it, and it was for God to retract or renew his part of it as it pleased him. He here of his free grace renews the promise to drive out the Canaanitish nations.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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, see the comment upon Exodus 3:8 . For I will not go up in the midst of thee . At length there was an end of ambiguity—God's purpose was made plain—the people had shown themselves unfit for his near presence, and he would withdraw himself. So it would be best... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 enjoyed—his guidance by the pillar of the cloud ( Exodus 13:21 )—his counsel, if there were need to ask anything ( Exodus 15:25 )—his aid in the day of battle ( Exodus 17:8-13 )—his near presence, by day and by night, constantly ( Exodus 13:22 )—and they dreaded a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 33:2-3

See Exodus 3:8.For I will not go up in the midst of thee - The covenant on which the original promise Exodus 23:20-23 was based had been broken by the people. Yahweh now therefore declared that though His Angel should go before Moses, He would withhold His own favoring presence. The nation should be put on a level with other nations, to lose its character as the people in special covenant with Yahweh (see the note at Exodus 33:16). Thus were the people forcibly warned that His presence could... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 33:2-3

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