Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Chapter 33 · Analysis – Questions
1. The Method and Argument.
IN this Chapter is set forth the reconciliation of God with his people, wherein first the preparation to this reconciliation goeth before, to vers. 12. then the manner of the reconciliation followeth to the end of the Chapter.
1. In the preparation: 1. There is shewed on Gods behalfe, how first he telleth Moses, that although he would bring them into the land of Canaan, yet hee will not goe with them himselfe, vers. 1, 2, 3. and the effect that followed, the sorrow of the people, vers. 4. Secondly, the Lord chargeth them to lay aside their good raiment, vers. 5. and the people obeyed, vers. 6.
2. On Moses behalfe: he to shew that the Lord was departed from them, the more to humble them, pitched his tent without the host, vers. 7.
3. On the peoples part is described their humilitie in looking toward Moses, and worshipping toward the Tabernacle: with the cause that moved them, Gods presence there in the cloud, and his talking with Moses, to vers. 12.
2. The manner of the reconciliation followeth: 1. The reconciliation it selfe is set down: 1. With Moses reasons, taken from Gods favour toward him, vers. 12. from his covenant with the people. vers. 13. from the contrarie inconvenience, vers. 14. from the effects, the glorie of God among the people, vers. 15.2. And Gods gracious condescending, vers. 15, 17. 2. The signe of this reconciliation where we have Moses request to see Gods glorie, vers. 18. And the Lords answer partly granting his petition, vers. 19. partly dening it, but with some limitation, vers. 20. to the end.
2. The divers readings.
I.Vers. 6. Farre off from the mount Choreb, I. better than, by the mount Horeb, B.V. or, from the mount Horeb, A.P.C.L.S. See the question following upon this verse.
I.Vers. 10. Afterward, as he returned with Ioshuah his minister to the host, he departed not, &c. that is God, I. better than to referre it to Ioshuah, that he departed not. See the 21. question following.
B.G. cum caeter. I.B.G. cum caeter. I.B.G. &c.Vers. 12. Thou hast not shewed me whom thou wilt send, A.P.B.G. &c. better than, what thou wouldest send. See 23. question.
Vers. 13. Shew me thy way, I. cum caeter. the way of thy goodnesse, C. thy goodnesse, is not in the text: better than, shew me thy face, L. or, shew thee my selfe manifestly, S. The word is, foreign deracheas, the way.
Vers. 15. If thy presence or face goe not, I.V.B.G.A.P. if thy majestie, C. better than, if thou goe not, L.S. the word is foreign pancea, thy face.
I.V.Vers. 16. I and thy people shall be separated, I.V.C.A.P. better than, shall be glorified, L.S. or, have preominence before all people, B. G. the word is foreign phala, to devide, separate: it shall appeare, that thou hast a speciall care of us beyond all people.
3. The questions discussed.
QUEST. I. At what time the Lord uttered this commination.
Vers. 1. Afterward the Lord said unto Moses, &c. 1. Calvine thinketh, that this commination here set downe was delivered unto Moses, before he did breake forth into that patheticall petition: to be raced out of the booke of life, if the Lord would not pardon the people: and that upon this threatning that the Lord would goe no more with him, then followed that vehement prayer of Moses. 2. But I rather thinke with Iunius, that this was spoken after God had repented him of the evill, which he had intended utterly to have destroyed the people: and after Moses had in his great zeale and love toward his people wished to be raced out: for immediatly upon that prayer, chap. 32.34. he promiseth his Angell should goe with them: and so doth the Lord here: therefore the coherence of the argument sheweth, that this followed immediatly upon the other.
QUEST. II. Whether the narration of Moses Tabernacle in this chapter be transposed.
YEt though this commination be joyned in order of time to the Lords speech, set down in the end of the former chapter, a great part of this chapter, Tostatus thinketh of necessitie must be transposed: as that narration which is inserted of Moses Tabernacle, vers. 7. to vers. 12. which was done before Moses went up the second time into the mount. And this he goeth about to prove by these reasons: 1. When the Lord thus spake unto Moses, hee was in the mount with God: for thither hee went againe, chap. 30.31. but Moses Tabernacle was not in the mount: for out of the Tabernacle Moses went into the campe and returned: but when he went up the second time, he staled 40. daies there continually and came not downe: the people also saw Moses when he went into the Tabernacle, but they could not see him in the mount: and it is said vers. 11. that his servant Ioshua went not out of the Tabernacle, but hee did not goe up into the mount with Moses. 2. At such time as Moses removed his Tent without the campe, the Lord was not yet reconciled to the people: and therefore Moses pitched his Tent without the host, as a signe, that God was departed from them: but after that Moses came downe the second time, the people were reconciled, and fell to making of the Tabernacle. 3. And after the Tabernacle worke was taken in hand, Moses was then continually present to oversee the worke; it is not like then that Moses Tent at that time was removed without the campe: wherefore Tostatus seemeth to conclude upon these reasons, that this was done before Moses went up the second time into the mount, where he staied other fortie daies: and it was most like that then Moses sequestred himselfe out of the campe, when he said hee would goe againe up unto the Lord, chap. 31.30. Tostat. qu. 3.
But this being granted, that all this was done before Moses went up the second time unto God to fetch the second tables; yet it followeth not that the historie is transposed: but all this which is in this chapter contained, is likely to bee done in that order which is heere set downe: and that going up, mentioned chap. 32.30. was not that when Moses carried up the tables of stone, which the Lord bid him prepare, for that followeth after, chap. 34.1. but it was some other going up unto God, though not into the top of the mountaine, where the thicke cloud was: the reasons are these: 1. Because this going up of Moses was the next day after the slaughter by the Levites, which was the next day after he came down with the tables, chap. 32.30. But he went not up with the second tables so soone. 2. Moses at this conference with God, came and told the peopl… what the Lord said, that hee would not goe with them; whereupon they sorrowed, vers. 4. But when hee went up with the second tables, he staied there fortie daies, and came not downe. 3. Moses was see in a cleft of the rocke which was in the mountaine, while the Lord passed by, vers. 22. before hee went up the second time with the tables, chap. 34.1. therefore this was another going up beside that. See more of this, qu. 74. chap. 32.