Exodus 33:7 - Exposition

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 , where " the house" undoubtedly means " his house.") Moses took his own tent, probably as the best in the encampment, and converted it to a sacred use, transferring his own abode to another. Afar off from the camp . The sacred and the profane must not approach each other too closely—an interval must be set between them. But the distance, evidently, was not great ( Exodus 33:10 ). The tabernacle of the congregation. Rather, "the tent of meeting" or "of conference"— i.e; the tent in which he expected to meet and converse with God. See the comment on Exodus 27:21 . Every one which sought the Lord went out. Moses must have commanded this. The "tent" was not to be a mere oratory for himself, but open to all Israelites.