The Command to Leave Sinai (Deuteronomy 1:1–8)
1 UST Then Yahweh said to Moses,“Get up and go from here with the people whom you led out of Egypt. Go to the land that I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’
2 UST I will send my angel ahead of you, and I will remove the people descended from Canaan, Amor, Heth, Periz, Hiv, and Jebus from that land. BSB BSB: And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
3 UST You will go to a land that will be very good for raising livestock and growing crops. But I will not go with you myself, because if I did that, I might annihilate you while you are traveling, because you are very obstinate people.” BSB BSB: Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”
4 UST Yahweh told Moses to tell the Israelites,“You are very stubborn. If I were to go with you for even a moment, I would kill you. Now take off your fine things{ to show that you are sorry for sinning}. Then I will decide if I will punish you.” When the people heard that Yahweh spoke harshly, they were sorry, and no one wore fancy things. BSB BSB: When the people heard this bad news, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry.
6 UST From Mount Sinai on, the Israelites took off and left off all their fine things. BSB BSB: So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.
The Tent of Meeting 7 UST { Until they built the sacred tent,} Moses set up a tent outside the camp, far away. He called it“the tent of meeting.” Everyone who wanted Yahweh to decide something for them would go out of the camp to the tent of meeting. BSB BSB: Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
8 UST Whenever Moses went out to the tent of meeting, all the people would stand at their own tent entrances and watch him until he had walked into the tent of meeting. BSB BSB: Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent.
9 UST Whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting, the tall cloud would come down and stay at the tent entrance, and then{ Yahweh} would talk with Moses. BSB BSB: As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
10 UST When the people saw the tall cloud standing at the entrance to the tent of meeting, they would all bow to worship Yahweh at their own tent entrances. BSB BSB: When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.
11 UST Yahweh would speak directly to Moses like someone speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But his young helper, Joshua son of Nun, would stay in the tent of meeting. BSB BSB: Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
The Promise of God’s Presence 12 UST Moses said to Yahweh,“Please pay attention. You told me to lead the Israelites{ to the land that you will show me}. But you have not told me whom you will send{ to help} me! You also said that you know me well and that you are pleased with me. BSB BSB: Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’
13 UST So now, if you are truly pleased with me, I ask you, please tell me the things that you are going to do in order that I may know you better and continue to please you. Please remember that the Israelites are the people whom you chose to belong to you.” BSB BSB: Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”
14 UST Yahweh replied,“I will go with you and relieve you.” BSB BSB: And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 UST Moses replied to Yahweh,“If you do not go{ with me}, do not make us leave this place. BSB BSB: “If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here.
16 UST The only way that others will know that you are pleased with me and with your people is if you go with us! If you go with us, it will show that we are different from all the other nations on the earth.” BSB BSB: For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
17 UST Yahweh replied to Moses,“I will do what you have asked, because I know you well and I am pleased with you.” BSB BSB: So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
18 UST Then Moses said,“Please let me see how glorious you are.” BSB BSB: Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
19 UST Yahweh replied,“I will display to you how good I am and tell you{ what} my name Yahweh{ means}. I will act kindly to anyone I choose, and I will act mercifully to anyone I choose. BSB BSB: “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
20 UST But you cannot see my face, because anyone who sees my face will die. BSB BSB: But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
21 UST But look! Here is a place close to me where you can stand on a large rock. BSB BSB: The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,
22 UST When my glorious{ light} goes by you, I will put you in a large hole in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have gone by you. BSB BSB: and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23 UST Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but you will not see my face.” BSB BSB: Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”
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