1 Then the Lord commanded Moses: “Leave this place, with the people you brought out of Egypt, and go to the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your descendants.
Adverts
2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.
3 Go to the land where milk and honey flow. But I will not go with you, for you are a stubborn people, and I could destroy you on the way.”
4 When the people heard these terrible words, they began to cry, and no one wore any decorations.
5 This is because the Lord had commanded Moses to say to the Israelites: “You are an obstinate people. If I were with you, even for a moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your decorations, and I will decide what to do with you.”
Adverts
6 Therefore, from Mount Horeb onwards, the Israelites no longer wore any decorations.
7 Moses used to pitch a tent outside the camp; he called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who wanted to consult God went to the tent, outside the camp.
8 Whenever Moses went there, all the people got up and stood at the entrance to their tents, watching him, until he entered the tent.
9 As soon as Moses entered, the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the entrance to the tent, while the Lord spoke to Moses.
10 When the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all worshiped standing, each at the entrance of his own tent.
11 The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, like someone talking to their friend. Then Moses returned to the camp; but Joshua son of Nun, who served as his assistant, did not leave the tent.
12 Moses said to the Lord, “You commanded me, 'Lead this people,' but you do not let me know who you will send with me. You said, 'I know you by name, and I have taken delight in you.'
13 If you see me with pleasure, reveal your purposes to me, so that I may know you and continue to be accepted by you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
14 The Lord answered, “I myself will accompany you, and I will give you rest.”
15 Then Moses said to him: “If you will not go with us, do not send us.
16 How will it be known that I and your people can count on your favor, if you do not accompany us? What else can distinguish me and your people from all other peoples on the face of the earth? “
17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will do as you ask, because I have taken delight in you and know you by name.”
18 Then Moses said, “I pray you, show me your glory.”
19 And God replied: “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim my name before you: the Lord. I will have mercy on whom I wish to have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I wish to have compassion.”
20 And he added: “You won’t be able to see my face, because no one will be able to see me and stay alive.”
21 And the Lord continued: “There is a place near me, where you will stay, on a rock.
22 When my glory passes by, I will place him in a cleft of the rock and cover him with my hand until I have passed by.
23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but no one can see my face.”
