Ver. l. Which thou hast brought.] [See Trapp on “Ex 33:7”]
Ver. 2. An angel before thee.] A created angel to conduct thee. But Moses would none of that; he would not be so put off. (Exodus 34:9) Low things satisfy not a high spirit.
Ver. 3. I will not go up,] sc., By those visible signs of my gracious presence as heretofore.
Ver. 4. They mourned.] As good cause they had: for “woe be unto thee when I depart from thee.” (Hosea 9:12)
Ver. 5. And consume thee.] God’s threatenings are cordial, but conditional. Minatur Deus ut non puniat. “Fury is not in me.” (Isaiah 27:4) He punisheth not “till there be no other remedy,” (2 Chronicles 36:16) as the bee stings not till provoked.
Ver. 6. Stripped themselves.] As in a day of restraint.
Ver. 7. Afar off from the camp.] In token of God’s deep displeasure and departure from them.
Ver. 8. And looked after Moses.] To see what success, what acceptance: as David looked up after his prayer to see how it sped. (Psalms 5:3)
Ver. 9. And the Lord talked with Moses.] Out of the cloudy pillar: which was a sign of favour. (Psalms 99:7) The Turks honour Moses, and call him the talker with God.
Ver. 10. Rose up and worshipped.] Though obnoxious, they would not despair of mercy. See 1 Samuel 12:20-22.
Ver. 11. Face to face.] Friendly and familiarly, as Numbers 12:8. And perhaps in human shape, as he spake with Abraham his friend. Genesis 18:16-33
Ver. 12. See, thou sayest unto me.] See, saith one, how Moses here encroacheth upon God. God had done much for him, he must have more. (Exodus 33:13) “Show me now thy way,” &c. This God grants him. (Exodus 33:14) This serves not the turn; he must have more yet. (Exodus 33:16) Well, he hath it. (Exodus 33:17) Is he satisfied? No, he must yet have more. (Exodus 33:18) “I beseech thee show me thy glory.” It is done. (Exodus 33:19) Is he satisfied yet? No. (Exodus 34:9) God must pardon the sin of his people too; and take them and him for his inheritance: this fruit of his favour he must needs be entreated to add to the rest. Mr Bur.?Burroughs.
Ver. 13. That I may know thee.] Moses knew more of God than any man; he was but newly come down from the mount, and at the tabernacle door God spake with Moses “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) The more a man knows of God, the more desirous he is to know him.
Ver. 14. I will give thee rest.] Full content of mind, in the sense of my presence and light of my countenance.
Ver. 15. If thy presence go not with me.] What is it to have the air without light? What was all Mordecai’s honour to him when the king frowned upon him?
Ver. 16. So shall we be separated.] Heb., Marvellously separated. The separation of the saints is a wonderful separation. See Deuteronomy 4:7; also Isaiah 20:6, where Judea is for this cause called an “isle.”
Ver. 17. I know thee by name.] As princes do their favourites, who easily forget others, as Saul did David. (1 Samuel 17:55)
Ver. 18. Show me thy glory.] None ever knew God’s glory; our cockle shell can never comprehend this sea: yet it may be apprehended that it is incomprehensible.
Ver. 19. I will make all my goodness.] My glorious goodness. Thus Moses may have what he will of God. “The king is not he that can do anything against you,” said Zedekiah to his courtiers. (Jeremiah 38:5)
Ver. 20. Thou canst not see my face.] Otherwise than in his words and works. (Romans 1:20) As we cannot see the sun in rota, in the circle, but in the beams. Some have seen Mercabah velo harocheb, as the Hebrews speak, the chariot in which God rode, but not the rider in it: they saw some created image, or glory, whereby he testified his more immediate presence, but not himself. No man shall see me, and live.] But be oppressed and swallowed up with majesty: as the sight of the eye is dazzled with the sun; or a crystal glass broken with the fire. Rab. Maimon.