Exodus 32:30-33:23

New International Version

³⁰ The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.^(A) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement^(B) for your sin.”

³¹ So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!^(C) They have made themselves gods of gold.^{(D) 32} But now, please forgive their sin^(E)—but if not, then blot me^(F) out of the book^(G) you have written.”

³³ The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out^(H) of my book. ³⁴ Now go, lead^(I) the people to the place^(J) I spoke of, and my angel^(K) will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,^(L) I will punish them for their sin.”

³⁵ And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf^(M) Aaron had made.

33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath^(N) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’^{(O) 2} I will send an angel^(P) before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.^{(Q) 3} Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.^(R) But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked^(S) people and I might destroy^(T) you on the way.”

⁴ When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn^(U) and no one put on any ornaments. ⁵ For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people.^(V) If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy^(W) you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” ⁶ So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.^(X)

The Tent of Meeting

⁷ Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.”^(Y) Anyone inquiring^(Z) of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. ⁸ And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents,^(AA) watching Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹ As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud^(AB) would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke^(AC) with Moses. ¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.^{(AD) 11} The Lord would speak to Moses face to face,^(AE) as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua^(AF) son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’^(AG) but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name^(AH) and you have found favor^(AI) with me.’ ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways^(AJ) so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”^(AK)

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “My Presence^(AL) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(AM)

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence^(AN) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?^(AO) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”^(AP)

¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked,^(AQ) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”^(AR)

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”^(AS)

¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass^(AT) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name,^(AU) the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^{(AV) 20} But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see^(AW) me and live.”

²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock^(AX) and cover you with my hand^(AY) until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”