Exodus 33

Exodus 33:1

UP hence] Not from the place where Moses was with God: for that was upon the hill where God appeared, and Canaan was not up, or on high in respect of that; but it is meant of the place, where Moses and the people were together before, and where they were to meete againe, when he came downe from the Mount; and he and they are thence bidden to goe up, because the Land of Canaan was compassed with hils; so they that entered into it must passe up by the hils.

unto thy seed] * Genesis 12:7.

Exodus 33:2

• An Angel] Notwithstanding their provocation of him, (recorded in the precedent Chapter) he will continue unto them a conducting Angel, with the pillar of fire, and cloud, though he withdraw some evidences of his former favour to them. * Chap. 23. 23. & 32. 34. Deuteronomy 7:21. Joshua 24:14. This Angel some conceive to be a created Angel, and if so, they are degraded from the dignitie they had before when the Sonne of God was their Angel conducter, Chap. 23, &c.

Canaanite] See the third Annot. on Genesis 13. vers. 7.

Exodus 33:3

floweth] See Annot. on Exodus 3:8.

I will not goe] That is, I will not in such familiar manner, nor with such especiall evidences of grace and glory, shew my selfe thy Patron, and protector, as I have done; meaning this, rather in respect of the people, then of Moses; for he was offended with them, not with him; and from this displeasure it may be; proceeded the placing of the Tabernacle not in the midst of the Tribes as before, but without the Camp, vers. 7.

stiffe necked] That will not willingly bend or yeeld the neck to any yoake. Chap. 32. 9. Deuteronomy 9:13.

lest I consume thee] For if I should be as gracious unto thee, as I have beene, and thou prove as stiffe-necked as thou hast done, I should be provoked to consume thee; for offences are aggravated by precedent favours, as Amos 3:13. 14.

Exodus 33:4

no man did put on] Such as they had from the Egyptians, or took in spoyle from Amalekites, or any other that might serve to set them out in a glorious and cheerfull manner, being sad and deserted for the heavy tydings they had heard from God.

Exodus 33:5

into the midst of] God threatens them, vers. 3. that he will not goe up in the midst of the people; here he threatens, I will come up into the midst of thee:: by the former he denieth his gracious presence (in the Tabernacle, which was placed in the midst of the Tents) for which Moses intreateth the Lord, vers. 13. and after the worshiping of the golden Calfe, removed quite out of the Campe, ver. 7. but here he threateneth, that he will come among them with a vengeance, and suddenly consume them if their repentance prevent not their perdition.

and consume thee] This Commination is proposed, not as a peremptory denunciation of vengeance, but with an implicite condition of pardon to the penitent; and so it is set downe as a motive and preparation to repentance: and if so it prevaile, it may be a meanes of their preservation: if not, they must expect this Commination to take effect.

Put off thine ornaments] It it not fit that men should please themselves in outward pompe and adorning of their bodies, when God sheweth himselfe displeased with them. Vers. 4. 6. 2 Samuel 12:20. & Chap. 19. 24. Daniel 10:3.

that I may know] That either I may shew mercy, if thou repent; or els punish, if thou persist in thy sinne; and that I may proportion my dealing with thee thereafter as thou shewest thy selfe to deserve at my hands.

Exodus 33:7

the Tabernacle] Not that whose description is set down, Chap. 26. for that was not yet made, Chap. 35. & Chap. 40. but some principall Tent, whether Moses his owne, or what els, is not set downe: see Annot. on vers. 3. which might serve either for exercise of Religion, or for meetings for Civill matters.

of the congregation] So called, because the people gathered together, or assembled at the Tabernacle, the place of publique worship, and of Oraculous direction. Or at least came out and stood at the doore of their Tents, vers. 8. 10. looking toward the Tabernacle (covered with the cloud) whither Moses went to mediate betwixt the Lord and his people.

Exodus 33:8

rose up and stood] The people were much affected with Moses message which he brought from God, which drew their eyes after him, and the more because of the Tabernacles removall from the former to another place, but most of all because of the coming down of the cloudy pillar, and Gods communing with Moses at the doore of the Tabernacle; they the while standing at their owne Tent doores as unworthy to make any nearer approaches towards the place where God and Moses met together.

Exodus 33:11

• face to face] Not that God hath a face or any such parts as man hath, as hath beene noted on Chap. 31. vers. last; nor that Moses could have a view of the essence of God which is invisible, but that he was pleased to speake to him more familiarly, and more plainly then with others, and as one man should speake with another face to face, or mouth to mouth, Numbers 12:8. Or besides other more usuall apparitions, as of the cloud and pillar of fire, he might conferre with him in humane shape, as he did with Abraham, Gen. 18. Genesis 32:30. Deuteronomy 34:10.

a young man] He is thought to be at this time about 46. years of age, or (as some reckon) fiftie, and such in those dayes were called young men, or youths; sometimes boyes (as some render the word) by such as were much their ancients, especially if as yet they had no wives, (as Joshua had not) and because the younger sort did usually waite upon the elder; therefore waiters, young or old, were called by the name of young men or boyes; as because Eunuchs were Court officers, Court officers were called Eunuchs though they were perfect men.

departed not] As being keeper of the Tabernacle in Moses his absence, and exercised there as his devotion and condition did require.

Exodus 33:12

send with me] God had said, vers. 2. he would send an Angel or Messenger before: here Moses is inquisitive who he was? and seems to be troubled that yet God had not revealed him unto him; especially since God tooke such particular notice of him, and professed peculiar favour to him; and since the cloudy pillar did not now guide them, nor God appeare in the midst of them as formerly he had done.

by thy name] In the Scripture phrase Gods favour to men i expressed by knowing of them and their waies, as Psalms 1:6. as on the contrary his displeasure is signified, by not knowing them, as Matthew 7:23. and knowing by name implieth more acquaintance then by face, or sight: for many know others so, whose name they know not; or cannot readily call to minde: and it is yet a further note of Gods favour to Moses, that he was pleased to take especiall notice of his name; and in his name to keep a memorandum of his tender care and compassion to Moses, in his deliverance from drowning, when he was drawne out of the water, which his name Moses signifieth.

Exodus 33:13

thy way that] Now God had altered his course in the guidance of his people, he desires to know what way, or in what manner he meant to deale with himselfe and the people: he prayeth that God would graciously conduct his people, as he had done, and that he might know he did so, by some undoubted evidence that he was present with him, and that he would shew himselfe propitious to him and to the people committed to his conduct.

grace in thy fight] These words are twice repeated in this verse, besides once more at the 16. verse: first, as an inducement to Gods further direction of Moses in the guidance of his people: secondly, as an effect of that favour, whereby it may appeare, he was accepted with God, and gracious in his sight.

that I may know thee] That I may experimentally prove how good thou art to thy people, who diligently seeke after thee, and desire sincerely to serve thee.

Exodus 33:14

give thee rest] Not from journeying and labour, for yet the people were to be led on further by him, but from trouble of minde; so that amidst outward troubles and assaults of enemies, he should enjoy a tranquillitie of minde, in resting and reposing himselfe quietly in the confidence of Gods power and favour.

Exodus 33:15

if thou goe not] Moses had set his heart so affectionately on Gods presence, and was so prepared to presse his request unto him for it, that though God had granted what he had asked, he could not forbeare what he had before conceived to that purpose, which is set downe in this and the next verse.

Exodus 33:16

separated] That is, distinguished from other people, by thy benevolence to us, and thy giving us preeminence over them.

Exodus 33:17

I will doe this thing that] How gracious a favourite was Moses with God, how powerfull and profitable an Advocate for the people, when God is so ready to grant what he requests on their behalfe, as here (notwithstanding his threatening at the third verse) to promise not onely the conduct of his Angel; vers. 2. but a visible signe of his especiall presence among them.

Exodus 33:18

thy glory] Moses had found extraordinary grace with God, and he groweth more bold to advance in petition for more: and now he desireth to see, (not his essence, for that is invisible, 1 Timothy 6:16. and Moses it is like was not ignorant of it, but) his divine glory, as a glympse of that blessed vision of him which God reserved for another life. It seemeth God spake with Moses by a sensible voyce, and that his presence was overshadowed with a cloud or darknesse, so that his glory did not appeare; and therefore Moses desired the removall thereof, or that his glory might breake through it, and that he might see it, so farre as his condition of mortalitie was capable of it.

Exodus 33:19

my goodnesse to passe] Moses makes his demand of Gods glory, and he answereth him by his mention of his goodnesse; whereby he promiseth, that so much as is good and profitable for him to know, he will reveale unto him: Or, I will make (saith he) all my goodnesse to passe by: that is, I my selfe will passe before thee, and with my selfe all my goodnesse, and glory; but that is too much for thee to comprehend: it shall therefore passe, not stay for thee to gaze upon; passe before thee, that thou maist see a shadow of it behinde: and because in this state of defiled infirmitie and mortalitie, thou canst by the eye of sense discerne but little of mine excellencie, (whether for my goodnesse or glory) I will helpe the dimnesse of thy sight, by instruction of thine eare, and will proclaime my Name and Nature.

proclaime the Name] The Lord himselfe will utter his owne Name, & wil make mention of his Attributes: as Ch. 34. 5, 6, 7.

I will be gracious to whom I will] Among his Attributes his mercy is most glorious; and his mercy is the more glorious in that he freely conferreth, and bestoweth it on whom he will, without any merit in any, and therefore it should passe without murmuring in all; for God is a most free Agent, and cannot come under any account for what he doth or doth not. See Romans 9. from vers. 16. to 23.

Exodus 33:20

not see my face] That is, thou canst not see me as I am, in my spirituall Majestie, which is altogether invisible; nor canst thou beare the brightnesse of that glorious apparition which accompanieth my presence, though I have talked with thee familiarly, as one friend doth with another, when they speake face to face. See the first Annot. on vers. 11.

No man see me and live] For my glory (if I should manifest it to the full) is too much for mans infirmity to apprehend, and it would astonish him so, as to make him as a dead man: see Revel. 1. 16, 17. Or if a man would see God he must dye, and then he shall see (as it were) face to face, and know as he is knowne, 1 Corinthians 13:12. See the third Annot. on Genesis 32:30. & on Exodus 24:10. yet the very essence of God is still invisible.

Exodus 33:22

with my hand] Of Gods hand we must conceive as of his face: see Annot. on Vers. 11. and of his finger, Annot. on Chap. 31. vers. 18. God hid his glory from Moses his eyes, as if an hand had beene spread over his face to cover them.

Exodus 33:23

my back-parts] That is, when mine invisible glory is passed by, (wherein my Majesty most shineth as beauty on the face) thou shalt see so much of my glory coming after it, as will be enough both for thy discerning, and for thy desire: and if God appeared in an humane shape at this time (as some conceive) he might see him behind as in the shadow, who in the brightnesse which went before, was too glorious an object for the eyes of any meere mortall man.