Exodus 33

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the…” Naming Amorite and Canaanite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people…” Naming Unto keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.” The line’s distinctive content terms include evil, mourned, ornaments. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.” Naming Horeb and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped…” The line’s distinctive content terms include door, people, cloudy. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but…” Naming Joshua and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses said unto the LORD , See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou…” Naming Bring and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may…” The line’s distinctive content terms include grace, sight, consider. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” The line’s distinctive content terms include carry, presence. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight…” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beseech, glory, shew. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gracious, mercy, shew. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, place, rock. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.