Exodus 33

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 not, however, as our version makes it, a threat of destruction, but only a repetition of the statement made in Exodus 33:2 , that, if God went up with them, the probable result would be their destruction. Translate—"Ye are a stiff-necked people; were I for one moment to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 Israelites wore no ornaments, in token of their continued contrition for their apostasy read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 , which means "tent." The proper translation would be, "Moses took the tent." But the question at once arises—What tent? It is suggested that the article may have the force of the possessive pronoun, and indicate that he took "his tent." (Compare Matthew 9:10 ,... read more

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:7

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