Exodus 33:11 - Exposition

The Lord spake unto Moses face to face . As one present—not as one at a distance—"month to mouth," as we read in Numbers 12:8 —but not under any visible form (see verses 20, 23, and compare Deuteronomy 4:12 , Deuteronomy 4:15 ). He turned again . After each conference, Moses returned to the camp, where, no doubt, he had put up for himself another tent, and where his presence was needed He left, however, his personal attendant ("minister"), Joshua, to watch and guard the sacred structure during his absence. It is remarkable that the trust was committed to Joshua, rather than to Aaron, or any of the Levites. Probably the reason of this was, that Joshua alone had had no paw in the idolatry of the calf. (See Exodus 32:17 .)