Open English Translation EXO Chapter 33

33 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “Go and pack up from here, you and the people that you brought out of Egypt. Go to the land which I promised to Abraham, to Yitshak, and to Yacob, when I told them that I’d give it to their descendants.[ref] 2 I’ll send an angel ahead of you, and I’ll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Yebusites. 3 It’s a land flowing with milk and honey, but I won’t stay among you in case I decide to destroy you on the way because you’re stubborn people.”[ref]

4 When the people heard this angry comment, they mourned and none of them put on anything fancy.[fn] 5 Yahweh had[fn] told Mosheh, “Tell the Israelis, ‘You’re all stubborn people. If I went with you for even one moment, then I’d destroy you. So now, take off your jewellery and anything fancy that you’re wearing, and then I’ll know what I’ll do to you.’ ” 6 So from Mt. Sinai onwards, the Israelis stripped themselves of their jewellery and fancy things.

7 From that day onwards, Mosheh would take a tent and would put it up at a distance outside the camp—he called it ‘the tent of meeting’. Then anyone who wanted a decision from Yahweh would go out to that tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 Whenever Mosheh went out to the tent, all the people would stand up at the entrance of their own tents, and they would watch Mosheh go out until he went into the tent. 9 Once he entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the entrance of the tent, and Yahweh would speak with him. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would get up and bow down at the entrance of their own tents. 11 Yahweh would speak to Mosheh face to face like someone speaks to their friend. Then Mosheh would return to the camp, but his servant Yehoshua (a young man who was the son of Nun) would not leave the inside of the tent.

12 Then Mosheh said to Yahweh, “Listen, you’ve been saying to me, ‘Take these people onwards,’ but you haven’t let me know who you’ll send with me, although you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you’ve also found favour in my sight.’ 13 So now please, if I’ve found favour in your sight, please help me to know your ways. Then I’ll know you so that I can find favour in your sight. And don’t forget that this nation is your people.”

14 Yahweh replied, “My presence will go with you and I will help you to be able to rest.”

15 Mosheh replied to him, “If your presence isn’t coming with us, then don’t make us leave here. 16 How would anyone know that I’ve found favour in your sight—me and your people that is—if you didn’t come with us? How could I and your people be distinguished from all the other people groups in the world?”

17 Yahweh replied to Mosheh, “Okay, I’ll also do what you’ve asked because you’ve found favour in my sight and I know you by name.”

18 Then Mosheh, “Please show me your splendour.”

19 Yahweh replied, “I myself will cause all my goodness to pass over in front of you, and I will say my name of Yahweh in front of you. I will favour anyone I want, and I’ll be compassionate to whoever I want.”[ref] 20 But he said, “You won’t be able to see my face, because no human can see me and still live.” 21 He continued, “Look, there’s a place near me where you can stand there on the rock. 22 Then while my splendour passes over, I’ll put you in a crevice in the rock, and my hand will cover you until I’ve gone past. 23 Then I’ll take my hand away and you’ll be able to see my back, but you mustn’t try to look at my face.”