Exodus 33

Exodus 33:3

LEst I] If I should see my presence injured, and profaned through thy rebellion, See Habakkuk 1:13.

Exodus 33:4

Did put on him] In signe of hearty sorrow, ad publick repentance.

Exodus 33:5

That I may know] The Italian hath it, And I shall know] according as thy repentance shall be true or false, I shall dispose of thy punishment,

Exodus 33:6

By the mount] It seemes they did for some time continue this habit of penitents, some do take it as if there were the word, Going off from the mount] to be understood there, as acknowledging they were unworthy to come neere to God, as Exo. 20 18.

Exodus 33:7

The Tabernac’e] The Italian hath it, the Tent] the publick place, where e sate in judgement and counsell, and called the assembly together, where God appeared in the cloud, and spake with him, Without the campe] it appeared that this was done by Gods appointment; seeing the cloud (which questionlesse was gone out of the Campe) came to settle in this place; to signifie that the people were divorced from God, and in a manner excommunicate by him; and also because that sacred things should not be contaminated by the company of sinnrs, Of the Congregation] See the reason of this name, Exodus 27:21: which afterwards was given to the place of Gods publick worship, Which sought] by the meanes of Moses, to be told Gods will, or for the determining of any controversie See Exodus 18:15; Exodus 19:20.

Exodus 33:8

Rose up] The people perplexed and terrified by the clouds departure, followed Moses with heart and eye, as their Mediator towards God, to see if the cloud would returne and stay with them, seeing of which it worshippeth God again, as for a new homage after their idolatry.

Exodus 33:9

The Lord talked] The Italian hath not, The Lord] Not the cloud, but the Lord in it.

Exodus 33:10

Face to face] Not in a ravishment of mind, nor in abstraction of senses, nor in a vision nor in a dreame, but as present to present, with distinct and articulate voices: Moses having the perfect use of all his senses; See Numbers 12:8. which was a priviledge that Moses had above all other Prophets, and was granted but once to the people, Deuteronomy 5:4 Departed not] Joshua as Moses his lieutenant, to judge the people, according to the order established, Exo. 18. 25 26. And this seemeth to be added, to shew that the other Magistrats were from that time deposed, for participating in the peoples idolatry, untill God again sanctified and chose seventylders for that purpose, Numbers 11:16.

Exodus 33:12

Whom thu] What Angel, See Exodus 32:34 Thou hast said] This seemeth to have a reference to the assurance which God had given to Moses, of his eternall election, Exodus 32:33 and to the hearing his prayer for the people, Exodus 32:13; Exodus 32:34 I know thee] Thou hast chosen me to be thine, and predestinated me to glory; See Jeremiah 1:5. Romans 8:29 Thou hast also] thy prayer hath graciously been head, for the pardoning of the peoples sin.

Exodus 33:13

Shew me] Let thy presence in the middest of thy people be made manifest unto me, as it hath been heretofore by the accustomed signes, and wonted speech, and do not now turn me over to speake to a created Angel: That I may find] that I may be certaine and know by the effects, that I am acceptable unto thee, and that thou hast heard my request.

Exodus 33:14

My presence] The Italian hath, My face] My selfe in mine owne person, will be the conductor of my people, Deuternon. 4. 34. Words of the Son of God, who is called the Angel of the presence, Isay 63. 9 Rest] that is to say, deliverance out of thy present anguish, and ease in the conducting of this people; till that by thy meanes I have brought them to a place of firme habitation.

Exodus 33:16

Separated] The Italian hath 〈◊〉, Admired] that is to say, adorned with singular and glorious priviledges.

Exodus 33:18

Thy glory] The tokens of the presence of the Son of God, shewed to Moses in the precedent times, are called the glory of God, Exodus 24:16-17: but here he requireth somewhat more, namely that he might see the face of that visible shape which the Son of God had taken upon him, when he spake to him (which till then had been covered with darknesse, Exodus 24:10.) in the same brightnesse and majesty, as it shall appeare in celestiall glory. Moved by a desire of tasting heavenly life, which desire was stirred up in Moses, through the certainty of his election, and by Gods facility in granting him whatsoever he requested.

Exodus 33:19

My goodnesse] The Italian hath it, My beauty] That bodily shape, clothed with brightnesse, and divine excellency, Proclaime] This is to teach Moses that God in this life, makes himselfe known through hearing, and not through sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7. in the distribution of his grace and mercy, and not in the full communication of his glory, to reduce Moses his too hasty desire, to the common rule of the faithfull in this world, see 2 Corinthians 12:7.

Exodus 33:20

My face] This difference of not seeing the face, but only the back parts, of that visible figure of the Son of God, was to shew, that in this world the faithfull can have but only some tracks, and obscure notice of Gods Essence and Glory, aif one should see a mans back: but in the life everlasting, they shall see him directly as he is, and fully; Se 1 Corinth. 13. 12. 1 of John 3:2 There shall nman] The Italian hath it, No man can] As well through mans infirmity in this mortall life, as for vice and the reliques of sin; of which things, the first is not able to endure Gods ining pesence, neither can God endure the sight of the other, see Genesis 16:13 Exodus 24:11.

Exodus 33:21

By me] In this mount, neere unto the place where thou hearest me speake.

Exodus 33:22

I will cover the] A figure of the darke dispencing of the knowledge of God in this world, by the word, sacraments, works, &c.