Exodus 33:7-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 33:7-11

Here is, I. One mark of displeasure put upon them for their further humiliation: Moses took the tabernacle, not his own tent for his family, but the tent wherein he gave audience, heard causes, and enquired of God, the guild-hall (as it were) of their camp, and pitched it without, afar off from the camp (Exod. 33:7), to signify to them that they had rendered themselves unworthy of it, and that, unless peace was made, it would return to them no more. God would thus let them know that he was at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:7

And Moses took the tabernacle ,.... Not that, the pattern of which he had been shown in the mount, for that was not as yet made, rather his own tabernacle or tent, Exodus 18:7 or one that was erected for worship before the large one was ordered, and while that was building; for it can hardly be thought they should have no place of worship for a whole year after they were come out of Egypt; though this might be not a place on purpose, or only erected for that use, but might be one of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:8

And it came to pass, when Moses went out of the tabernacle ,.... For when he had pitched it he did not continue there; which shows it was not the tent or tabernacle he dwelt in, but whither he went to and fro, both to meet the Lord in it, and transact the affairs of the people, and especially the great affair now depending between God and them: that all the people rose up : in reverence of him as their ruler, and the minister of God, and as their Mediator between God and them, though... read more

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 33:7

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:7

Verse 7 7.And Moses took the tabernacle This was a sign of the divorce between God and the Israelites, that the tabernacle should be removed from the camp and pitched at a distance, as if God were tired of His connection with them. He had promised as a special blessing that He would dwell in the midst of the people; and now, by departing elsewhere, He declares them to be polluted. In a word, the removal of the tabernacle was like the breaking of the tables; for, just as by the breaking of the... read more

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