Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 33:9
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood [at] the door of the tabernacle, and [the LORD] talked with Moses.
9, 10. Whenever Moses entered the Tent, the pillar of cloud (Exo 13:21-22), symbolizing Jehovah’s presence, would descend and stand by the entrance of the Tent (cf. Num 11:25; Num 12:5, Deu 31:15), God would speak to him there, and the people, every one at the entrance of his tent in the East a common place for sitting in (Gen 18:1) would rise up and worship, or rather, do obeisance (cf. on Exo 34:14).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Exo 33:9-11
The Lord talked with Moses.
Speaking to God
In the minds of many prayer seems to differ widely from other forms of communication. Not perceiving any tangible object of address, they feel as if to pray were to talk with nothing. How can you pray with vigour into the empty air? asked a candid doubter. Even Christians sometimes lack the sense of communion, and then prayer is scarcely more than soliloquy in the form of petition. And yet speaking to God is really very much like speaking to men. Since God is a person, address to Him must conform to the general principles of personal address.
I. In speaking to God, as in speaking to men, we must address the invisible. Converse is mental, not physical. The form you see is not the man you talk with. We speak not to the ears which catch the words, but to the mind which perceives the thought. A mere lump of organized clay cannot be a party to conversation. If, then, one asks, How can you pray into empty air? we may reply by asking: How can you talk to a clod of clay? In every case, whatever direction be given to words or other signals of communion, the real address is to mind. One using an acoustic tube apparently speaks to the mouth-piece in the wall. But he really addresses a person in another room. Words are usually directed towards eyes and ears because through these mind is reached. So prayer seems to the prayerless as speech thrown into void space. It is really a direct address to the Infinite Mind which pervades all space.
II. In speaking to God, as in speaking to men, we not only address the invisible, but the presence of a visible form, or symbol of personality, is unnecessary. The blind communicate without seeing a form, and the deaf without hearing a voice. We may speak to a person behind a wall or screen if only assured that he is within call. By letter we address friends hundreds of miles distant. Thus it is evident that prayer to God is only one of many forms of address to mind with no visible form present. We only need to know that the mind addressed is within reach by any means of communication.
III. In speaking to God, as in speaking to men, the enjoyment of communion is variable, and increases with custom and acquaintance. Many people have heard of God, but are not acquainted with Him. They know Him only by reputation. They are not on speaking terms with Him. Hence they have not learned to enjoy His company. They do not love to pray. But let them reverently and sincerely cultivate an acquaintance with God, so as really to know Him, and they will delight in holy communion. (The Study.)
Friendship with God
Mr. Toller, of Kettering, invited a company to meet Robert Hall. Among the guests was Andrew Fuller, who, with Toller, had previously accompanied Hall in a forenoon walk in the country. They returned together at the dinner-hour; and Hall immediately went up alone to his own chamber. The company waited for some time, but he did not appear. At length a messenger was sent to say that dinner was ready. But as the servant approached the chamber, she paused and listened, for Hall was on his knees pleading with God in prayer. When this was repeated to the company, Fuller exclaimed: Dont disturb him; he is with his best Friend.
Friendship with God
Augustine, in his Confessions, tells a story, which he heard from his friend Pontitianus, to the following effect. Two courtiers in attendance on the emperor, who was then witnessing the public games, strolled into some gardens, and entering a neighbouring house, which happened to belong to a Christian, were attracted by a manuscript life of the hermit Anthony. As pastime, one of them began to read it, but his curiosity soon grew into a deep conviction, which made him cry out to his friend: What attainment do we propose to ourselves so great as to be the intimate friends of the emperor? and even when arrived at, how unstable and full of peril is the position? But here, if I wish to be the friend of God, He will receive me immediately!
Communion with God
There was each morning during his first sojourn in the Soudan one half-hour during which there lay outside Charles George Gordons tent a handkerchief, and the whole camp knew the full significance of that small token, and most religiously was it respected by all there, whatever was their colour, creed, or business. No foot dared to enter the tent so guarded. No message, however pressing, was carried in. Whatever it was, of life or death, it had to wait until the guardian signal was removed. Every one knew that God and Gordon were alone in there together.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 9. The cloudy pillar descended] This very circumstance precluded the possibility of deception. The cloud descending at these times, and at none others, was a full proof that it was miraculous, and a pledge of the Divine presence. It was beyond the power of human art to counterfeit such an appearance; and let it be observed that all the people saw this, Ex 33:10. How many indubitable and irrefragable proofs of its own authenticity and Divine origin does the Pentateuch contain!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whereby God testified his approbation of Moses, and of that which Moses had done, which might seem to some severe and cruel.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9-11. the cloudy pillar descended,and stood at the door of the tabernacleHow would the downcasthearts of the people revivehow would the tide of joy swell inevery bosom, when the symbolic cloud was seen slowly and majesticallyto descend and stand at the entrance of the tabernacle!
as Moses enteredIt waswhen he appeared as their mediator, when he repaired from day to dayto intercede for them, that welcome token of assurance was given thathis advocacy prevailed, that Israel’s sin was forgiven, and that Godwould again be gracious.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended,…. From the top of the mount in which Jehovah was:
and stood at the door of the tabernacle; where Moses was just entered, and in sight of the people, which was a token of grace and favour both to him and them:
and [the Lord] talked with Moses; not the cloudy pillar, but the Lord in it, as we rightly supply it: what he talked with him about is not said, very probably concerning the children of Israel, their conduct and behaviour, and what was his will further concerning them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Exo 33:9. And the Lord talked with Moses Houbigant, observing that there is nothing for the Lord in the Hebrew, renders the last clause of this verse, and the pillar stood at the door of the tabernacle, behind Moses.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Num 12:8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood [at] the door of the tabernacle, and [the LORD] talked with Moses.
Ver. 9. And the Lord talked with Moses. ] Out of the cloudy pillar: which was a sign of favour. Psa 99:7 The Turks honour Moses, and call him the talker with God.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
cloudy: Exo 13:21, Exo 13:22, Psa 99:7
talked: Exo 33:11, Exo 25:22, Exo 31:18, Exo 34:3, Exo 34:9, Gen 17:22, Gen 18:33, Num 11:17, Eze 3:22
Reciprocal: Exo 34:5 – descended Exo 40:34 – a cloud Num 7:89 – to speak Num 9:15 – the cloud Deu 31:15 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 33:9-10. As Moses entered the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended This symbol of the divine presence having before gone up, and stood aloof from the camp, which was become unclean through their idolatry, now came down again, upon the removal of the tabernacle. And stood at the door of the tabernacle Openly to assert the authority of Moses, with whom God showed himself present, though he had withdrawn himself from them; and to signify his approbation of what he had done, however severe and cruel it might appear to some of them. All the people rose up and worshipped As soon as they saw the cloudy pillar, that sign of Gods presence, gave Moses the meeting; every man at his tent door Hereby they signified their humble adoration of the Divine Majesty; their thankfulness to God, that he was pleased to show them this token for good, for if he had been pleased to kill them, he would not have showed them such things as these; and their hearty concurrence with Moses, as their advocate, in every thing he should promise for them.