Exodus 33:2-13

2I will send 1an angel before you and 2I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3Go up to a land 3flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are 45an obstinate people, and 6I might destroy you on the way.”

4When the people heard this 7sad word, 8they went into mourning, and none of them put on his ornaments. 5For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are 910an obstinate people; should I go up in your midst for one moment, I would destroy you. Now therefore, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do with you.’” 6So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.

7Now Moses used to take 11the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And 12everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. 8And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. 9Whenever Moses entered the tent, 13the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; 14and 15the Lord would speak with Moses. 10When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. 11Thus 16the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When 17Moses returned to the camp, 18his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

12Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘19Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know 20whom You will send with me. 21Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ 13Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, 22let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. 23Consider too, that this nation is Your people.”