Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 33:8
And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, [that] all the people rose up, and stood every man [at] his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
8. Whenever Moses went out to the Tent, all the people would rise up, and follow him reverently with their eyes. The camp seems to be pictured on a much smaller scale by E than by P.
door ] lit. opening: so vv. 9, 10, and regularly with ‘tent.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Testifying their grief for Gods departure, their respect to Moses, whom they had lately despised, their earnest desire of his intercession for them, their longing for Gods favour, and their humble expectation of a gracious return from God by the hands of Moses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. all the people rose up, and stoodevery man at his tent doorIts removal produced deep anduniversal consternation; and it is easy to conceive how anxiously alleyes would be directed towards it; how rapidly the happy intelligencewould spread, when a phenomenon was witnessed from which anencouraging hope could be founded.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass, when Moses went out of the tabernacle,…. For when he had pitched it he did not continue there; which shows it was not the tent or tabernacle he dwelt in, but whither he went to and fro, both to meet the Lord in it, and transact the affairs of the people, and especially the great affair now depending between God and them:
[that] all the people rose up: in reverence of him as their ruler, and the minister of God, and as their Mediator between God and them, though they had but lately thought and spoke very meanly and contemptibly of him, Ex 32:1 see Job 29:8
and stood every man at his tent door; none offering to go in, nor to sit down until he was gone into the tabernacle, which was an instance of their respect to him:
and looked after Moses until he was gone into the tabernacle; kept their eye on him as long as they could see him, thereby expressing their esteem of him, signifying their desire that he would intercede for them, and wishing him success therein: the Targum of Jonathan interprets all this of the ungodly among them that looked after Moses with an evil eye.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) When Moses went out . . . all the people rose up.As a mark of respect and reverence. (Comp. Est. 5:9.)
The cloudy pillar descended.During the stay of the Israelites in the plain at the foot of Sinai, the ordinary place occupied by the pillar of the cloud was the summit of the mount (Exo. 19:16; Exo. 19:20; Exo. 20:21; Exo. 24:15-18; Exo. 34:5). At this time, whenever Moses entered the temporary tabernacle, the cloud came down from Sinai, ascending again when he quitted it.
And the Lord talked with Moses.Heb., and talked with Moses. The cloudy pillar is the subject of the verb talked. It is here identified with God, who manifested Himself through it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8-11. These verses show that this tent served a special purpose in the Sinaitic revelation of Jehovah . Into it Moses entered to plead and to receive divine communications, and there Jehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend . The cloudy pillar was a medium of communication, for according to the most correct translation of Exo 33:9 it was the pillar that descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and talked with Moses. Jehovah spoke through, or out of, the cloud. The speaking with Moses face to face did not involve a sight of God’s face, for he explains in Exo 33:20 that no man could see his face and live. So he communed with him from the cloud which veiled his glory. All the people were permitted to behold the cloudy pillar in the distance, but only Moses and Joshua entered the tent, and it is said that when Moses returned to camp Joshua tarried behind and departed not out of the tabernacle. The tent was not to be left altogether alone, and so it would seem that Moses’s servant stayed as on guard.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Is not the Lord Jesus here pointed out? Are not all eyes by faith directed unto him, when going in before the mercy-seat? Act 1:9-11 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 33:8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, [that] all the people rose up, and stood every man [at] his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
Ver. 8. And looked after Moses. ] To see what success, what acceptance: as David looked up after his prayer to see how it sped. Psa 5:3
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man. Hebrew. ‘ish. See App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and stood: Num 16:27
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 33:8. When Moses went out unto the tabernacle Namely, to intercede with God for the people, all the people stood every man at his tent door Acknowledging themselves unworthy to approach nearer; and looked after Moses To observe what signs of favour he should receive from God in answer to his prayers. Hereby, also, they showed their grief for Gods departure, their respect to Moses, whom they had lately slighted, their dependance on his mediation, and concern about the issue of it.