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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 33:1-6

Here is, I. The message which God sent by Moses to the children of Israel, signifying the continuance of the displeasure against them, and the bad terms they yet stood upon with God. This he must let them know for their further mortification. 1. He applies to them a mortifying name, by giving them their just character?a stiff-necked people, Exod. 33:3, 5. ?Go,? says God to Moses, ?go and tell them that they are so.? He that knows them better than they know themselves says so of them. God would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 33:3

Unto a land flowing with milk and honey ,.... Abounding with all the necessaries and good things of life, a description of the land of Canaan frequently made, see Exodus 3:8 , for I will not go up in the midst of thee ; would not grant them his presence in so near, visible, and respectable a manner as he had before done, though he would not utterly forsake them: the tabernacle was before in the midst of the camp, that is, that which was erected until the large one, ordered to be made,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 33:3

I will not go up in the midst of thee - Consequently, the angel here promised to be their guide was not that angel in whom Jehovah's name was: and so the people understood it; hence the mourning which is afterwards mentioned. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-6

1 . That the people's lives should be spared ( Exodus 32:14 ); 2 . And that they should be led into Palestine ( Exodus 32:34 ) But a change had been introduced into the conditions under which the future journeys were to be made, somewhat obscurely indicated in the words—"Behold, mine angel shall go before thee" ( ibid. )—which was now to be more distinctly set forth. "God's angel" may mean his Presence in the Person of his Son—as it appears to mean in Exodus 23:20-23 —or it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-6

The hiding of God's face from man. When God hides away his face from his people, it may be— I. AS A JUDGMENT . It was as a judgment that God separated between himself and man after the Fall, and "drove man forth" from the Garden of Eden ( Genesis 3:24 ). It was as a judgment that he withdrew from Saul, and "answered him not, neither by dreams, by Urim, nor by prophets" ( 1 Samuel 28:6 ). When he "hid his face" from David, and forgot all his misery and trouble, it was because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-11

Mercy vailed in judgment. I. GOD 'S SEPARATION FROM THE PEOPLE AND ITS EFFECTS . 1 . The separation. 2 . Its effects. (3) They were troubled by fear of judgment, for the Lord had said, " I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment and consume thee." These are the effects of the Spirit's work to-day. The same cry is lifted:—"Flee from the wrath to come." II. THE SEPARATION OF GOD 'S PEOPLE FROM THE MIDST OF SURROUNDING SIN AND... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:1-12

A nation in garb of penitence. On this section consider— I. THE CONDITIONED PROMISE ( Exodus 33:1-4 ). God has consented to spare the nation. They are to set out forthwith on the journey to Canaan. But his presence is no longer to go with them. He would send an angel. Notice— 1 . Everything, in one sense, remains the same . The people are to be conducted to Canaan. They are to inherit the promises. God will drive out their enemies before them. The land will still flow... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 33:3

Unto a land . Exodus 33:2 is parenthetic, and Exodus 33:3 coheres with Exodus 33:1 —"Go up hence, thou and the people, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham—unto a land flowing," etc. On the milk and honey of Canaan, see the comment upon Exodus 3:8 . For I will not go up in the midst of thee . At length there was an end of ambiguity—God's purpose was made plain—the people had shown themselves unfit for his near presence, and he would withdraw himself. So it would be best... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 33:2-3

See Exodus 3:8.For I will not go up in the midst of thee - The covenant on which the original promise Exodus 23:20-23 was based had been broken by the people. Yahweh now therefore declared that though His Angel should go before Moses, He would withhold His own favoring presence. The nation should be put on a level with other nations, to lose its character as the people in special covenant with Yahweh (see the note at Exodus 33:16). Thus were the people forcibly warned that His presence could... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 33:3

Exodus 33:3. I will not go up in the midst of thee By my own special and gracious presence, as hitherto I have done, but I will depart from thee. In pursuance hereof, God removes his tabernacle without the camp. I will only make good my promise to thy fathers, and send an angel to accomplish it, but I will show no particular and further kindness to thee. Lest I consume thee in the way Lest thy sins should be aggravated by my presence and favour, and thereby I should be provoked utterly to... read more

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