Exodus 33:22-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 33:12-23

Moses, having returned to the door of the tabernacle, becomes a humble and importunate supplicant there for two very great favours, and as a prince he has power with God, and prevails for both: herein he was a type of Christ the great intercessor, whom the Father heareth always. I. He is very earnest with God for a grant of his presence with Israel in the rest of their march to Canaan, notwithstanding their provocations. The people had by their sin deserved the wrath of God, and for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:22

And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by ,.... The displays of his grace and goodness are made: that I will put thee in a clift of the rock ; in one of the clefts, made by smiting it, through which the waters gushed out for the relief of the Israelites, and their flocks: and we are told F3 Egmont and Heyman's Travels, vol. 2. p. 167. see a Journal from Cairo, &c.; p. 28, 29. Ed. 2. , that to this day, on the summit of Mount Sinai, by the Arabians called Gibel el... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:23

And I will take away mine hand ,.... As being covered with the hand may signify the obscurity of the former dispensation, the taking of it away may denote a more clear revelation of the grace and goodness of God in Christ, and so of the glory of it under the Gospel dispensation; and yet what is seen in this, in comparison of the reality of things as they are, or of the heavenly state, are but as next expressed: and thou shalt see my back parts ; which some understand of the humanity of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:12-23

Intercession and its reward. I. THE INTERCESSOR 'S POWER . 1 . God, who had disowned Israel, and refused to go with them, consents to go with him:—"My presence shall go with thee , and I will give thee rest." The first step in successful intercession for others is the receiving of power to serve God among them. This is the dropping which foretells the shower. 2 . God is brought back by persistent asking into the midst of Israel:—" I will do this thing also that thou... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:18-23

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:18-23

Shew me thy glory. On this incident, remark— I. THE GOOD MAN THIRSTS FOR EVER FULLER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE GLORY . The more he knows of God, the more he would know. The nearer he gets, he presses nearer still. He "longs" to see God's power and glory" ( Psalms 63:2 ). He prays to see as much of it as may be possible to him on earth. He will only be satisfied when admitted to the full vision of it in heaven ( Psalms 16:11 ; Psalms 17:15 ; 1 John 3:2 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:22

I will put thee in a clift of the rock, The "clift" has been identified with the "cave of Elijah" ( 1 Kings 19:9 ); but the words used are different; and even were they the same, no identity could be established. It is rather in the broader lines of their missions and characters that resemblance is to be sought between Moses and Elijah than in the minuter details of their careers. Cover thee with my hand — i.e; "at once conceal thee and protect thee." Without these precautions, it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:22

Clifts in the rock . God has many places of safety—"clifts in the rock"—where he puts us when trials approach. "As our day is, so is our strength." Bereavemeat comes upon us, and he elevates us on a pinnacle of faith to which we had never before mounted. Poverty and disgrace fall on us, and he gives us insensibility to them. Pain comes, and he enables us to see that pain is exactly the chastening we want, and to thank him for it. We do not cry out, with the Stoic, "How sweet!" for "no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:23

Thou shalt see my back parts. Literally, "my back." The anthropomorphisms of the passage are numerous and strong—they must, of course, be regarded as accommodations to human ideas. After the Divine Presence had passed by, Moses was to be permitted to look out, and would see so much of the Divine glory as he would be able to bear; but still something far short of that which he had desired to see. The explanation that "the back of God" means "his works—the consequences of his activity"... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 33:23

Exodus 33:23. I will take away my hand Speaking after the manner of men: As soon as the dazzling splendours of my majesty, termed, my face, which it is impossible for man to behold and live, are passed by, I will, by degrees, withdraw the cloud that limited and concealed those splendours, and thou shalt see my back parts, or those rays of my glory which are not too bright and piercing for mortal eyes to sustain. To explain this further, the face in man is the seat of majesty, and men are... read more

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