Preface: God tells Moses that he must lead the people away from Sinai and that He will no longer travel in their midst. Moses moves the tent-of-meeting outside of the came and communicates with God there. He appears to argue successfully for God to remain with His people. Then, Moses also asks for God to let him see His glory.

The Bible Summary of Exodus 33 (in 140 characters or less): Moses set up a tent of meeting. He said to the LORD, "Don't send us from here without your presence." The LORD passed near to Moses..

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Exodus. This will be the most extensive examination of Exodus 33, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 33:

Introduction

         vv.     1–6           God Tells Israel to Leave Sinai; and He Speaks of Their Obstinance

         vv.     7–11         The Tent of Meeting is Moved Outside the Camp of Israel

         vv.    12–17         Moses Speaks with God, Acting as Intercessor for the People

         vv.    18–23         Moses asks to Behold the Glory of God

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Exodus 33 God with us (a graphic)

         Introduction         Exodus 33 Doodle Summary (a graphic)

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Exodus 33 (by various commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Exodus 33 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Exodus 33

         Introduction         The Prequel of Exodus 33

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Principals of Exodus 33

         Introduction         The Places of Exodus 33

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         Timeline for Exodus 33

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Exodus 33

         Introduction         Outlines of Exodus 33 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Exodus 33 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Exodus 24–35)

         Introduction         Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translation for Exodus 33

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Exodus 33)

         Introduction 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.       2              The Peoples in the Land of Canaan

         v.       2              Exodus 33:2 (WEB) (a graphic)

         v.       2              The Angel Sent Ahead of Israel (a graphic)

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.       3              God’s Forgiveness and God’s Discipline

         v. 

         v.       6              Why God the Holy Spirit Includes the Removal of Jewelry in the Book of Exodus

         v.       6              Saint Stephen Speaks of this Generation in Acts 7:36–44

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      10              Moses in the Tent (a graphic)

         v.      10              Why Were Believers in the Old Testament Not Given the Holy Spirit?

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      11              How Does Moses Speak Face to Face With God?

         v.      13              The Abbreviated Doctrine of The Way of God

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      15              Exodus 33:15 (NASB) (a graphic)

         v.      16              Exodus 33:15–16 (NKJV) (a graphic)

         v.      18              Sungazing (from Wikipedia)

         v.      18              Show Me Your Glory (a graphic)

         v.      19              Exodus 33:19a (a graphic)

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v.      20              How do we see God?

         v.      22              Exodus 33:22 NIV (a graphic)

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         v. 

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Exodus 33 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Exodus 33

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Exodus 33

         Summary            Shmoop Summary of Exodus 33

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Exodus 33

         Summary 

         Addendum          American English Bible Notes on Hebrews, IsraElites, Jews, and Semites

         Addendum          American English Bible Notes on Horeb

         Addendum          "Does God change His mind?" (from Got Questions?)

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          Two Complete Translations of Exodus 33

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Exodus 33

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Exodus 33

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Exodus 33

——————————

An Introduction to Exodus 33

I ntroduction: In chapter 33, we find a potential change in the relationship between God and that generation of Hebrews. God tells Moses that He will no longer move in the midst of the Hebrews. He warned that if His presence was manifested in their midst, He would destroy them. So God will meet with Moses outside the camp. This might be a foreshadowing of God turning to the gentiles.

Placing this chapter in time is, at first, difficult. It appears in v. 1 that the people of Israel are heading out towards the land of promise, but in subsequent chapters, Moses receives a second set of the Tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai (he himself must first cut out the stone—Exodus 34:1). Exodus 34 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) is the last time that Mount Sinai will be mentioned as a part of the current narrative. Later, it will be mentioned, but in the sense of looking back (Leviticus 7:38 26:46). However, so that there is no confusion, God will not guide Israel out from there until Numbers 11 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) (which, despite the number of chapters between this one and Num. 11, the time gap is well under a year).

Also, in the next few chapters, the Tabernacle (Tent of God) will be erected (Exodus 26 36 40). This is different from the Tent of Meeting spoken of in this chapter; although both will have the same name.

What appears to happen is, God here gives the orders to move out, but it is unclear whether they do. In Exodus 34, they will still clearly be near Mount Sinai and Moses will go up Mount Sinai. Several times in the book of Leviticus, the wilderness of Sinai will be mentioned (as it is in Numbers as well). What appears to be missing is just exactly when Israel broke camp and left.

Originally, I thought that this chapter has what Moses typically did. As Israel moved, he pitched a tent outside the camp as a prototype Tent of God. The problem with that is, although this could have been what generally happened, there is a very specific conversation here between Moses and God, one which seems to change the dynamics of God’s relationship with Israel; and Moses climbs Mount Sinai again in Exodus 34.

We have to go by a few clues. One year passes between Israel’s leaving Egypt and the original erection of the Tent of God (Exodus 40:2, 17). Prior to that, Moses apparently spoke with God in a different tent; somewhat of a prototype.

Exodus 33 is potentially confusing because of the mention of this Tent of Meeting. Either we are out of chronological order, or the Tabernacle of Exodus 33 is not the Tabernacle with which we are familiar. How the Tabernacle was to be constructed is found in Exodus 26 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) (and other items for the Tabernacle are described in nearby chapters). The Tabernacle is actually built in Exodus 36 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). It will be up and running in Exodus 40 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), with God’s blessing.

What is initially confusing about this chapter is, Moses appears to move the Tabernacle to the outskirts of camp and pitches it there. The simplest solution to this is, the chapters are in chronological order (more or less). However, the key is, there has always been a holy Tabernacle of some sort. That is, from the time that Moses returned to the people of Israel, there was established a tent where Moses went and communed with God. How this original tabernacle came to be is never told to us; however, its existence before Israel left Egypt helps solve a great many textual problems. We have Moses (or Moses and Aaron) speaking with God from time to time. Where did this take place? A specific tent designed for a place where God would meet with Moses makes the most sense. Then, the people of Israel would have naturally taken this tent along with them at the Exodus. So, the tent of this chapter is not the same as the Tabernacle described by God in Exodus 26 and built in Exodus 36.

Exodus 33 God with us (a graphic); from Faithlife Sermons; accessed March 11, 2021.

This chapter could easily be entitled, Moses communes with God or God speaks to Moses. In vv. 1–6, God assures Moses that He intends to keep His Word to Abraham, and give Israel the land of promise. However, Israel needed to move out and away from Mount Sinai, and God would not go with them. Within these directives from God are included Israel removing the ornaments which they had received from the Egyptians prior to leaving Egypt.

Vv. 7–11 reveal to us that Moses had a place where he would meet with God. That tent was once inside the camp of Israel, but God required Moses to move it outside the camp. In vv. 12–17, Moses successfully convinces God not to abandon Israel, but to remain with them. He argues that the optics of God abandoning Israel would be wrong for the surrounding nations to realize. Finally, in vv. 16–23, Moses makes a bold request, that he be able to see God or the manifestation of God in some way. Although these verses only describe what God is willing to do, we would assume that this actually took place.

On the surface, there appear to be quite a number of problems making this chapter coincide with the rest of the Torah; however, a little bit of explanation will explain any alleged contradictions.

Exodus 33 Doodle Summary (a graphic); from Doodle through the Bible; accessed March 11, 2021.

Timeline for Exodus 33

As I have done previously, since this chapters is what God is saying to Moses, I will begin and end the chapter with quotation marks. I will not insert a new set of quotation marks for each new paragraph.

——————————

God Tells Israel to Leave Sinai; and He Speaks of Their Obstinance

Deuteronomy 10:11

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The comparisons which I do are primarily between the English translations which are taken from the ancient tongues. For the most part, the variances are so minor that I rarely investigate them any further than that.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_Exodus.html and first published in 1862.

Occasionally, there is an obvious error in the English translation, and I correct those without additional mention or footnoting. For instance, the online version of the Targum of Onkelos which I use has gorund in Ex. 4:9; I simply corrected the text. This may occur once or twice in a chapter.

I attempt to include translations which are different in their vocabulary and phrasing. On many occasions, I may include a translation which is not substantially different than another listed translation.

Most of the translations can be found here.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so says Y^ehowah unto Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from a land of Egypt unto the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, to say, ‘To your seed I will give her.’ And I have sent to your faces an angel and I have driven out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite; unto a land flowing of milk and honey. For I will not go up in a midst of you, for a people stiff necked you [are]; lest I consume you in the way.”

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Onkelos)                  And the Lord said to Mosheh, Go, descend from hence, thou and the people thou hast brought up from the land of Mizraim, unto the land which I have covenanted unto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob, saying, To thy sons will I give it. Arid I will send My Angel before thee, and will drive oat the Kenaanaee, the Amoraee, and Hittaee, and the Pherizaee, the Hivaee, and the Jebusaee; to the land producing milk and honey: for My Shekinah shall not go up among you, because thou art a hard necked people, lest I destroy thee in the way. Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   And the Lord spake with Mosheh, Go, remove thee hence, lest My anger grow hot against the people, and I consume them. Therefore proceed thou, and the people whom thou didst bring up out of the land of Mizraim, (to that land) which I have covenanted unto Abraham, to Izhak, and to Jakob, saying, Unto thy sons will I give it. And I will appoint before thee an angel, and by his hand will cast out the Kenaanaee, Amoraee, Hittaee, and Pherizaee, Hivaee, and Jebusaee; to the land producing milk and honey. For the Shekinah of My Glory cannot go up among you, nor My Majesty dwell in the habitation of their camp, because thou art a hard necked people, lest I destroy you in the way.

Jerusalem targum                  .

Updated Douay-Rheims         And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Go, get you up from this place, you and your people which you have brought out of the land of Egypt, into the land concerning which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: To your seed I will give it: And I will send an angel before you, that I may cast out the Chanaanite, and the Amorrhite, and the Hethite, and the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite, That you mayst enter into the land that flowes with milk and honey. For I will not go up with you, because you are a stiffnecked people; lest I destroy you in the way.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) .

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha, "Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Ya'aqub, saying, 'I will give it to your seed.' I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Yebusite: to a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you in the way."

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     And LORD JEHOVAH struck the people because they worshiped the calf that Ahron had made. And LORD JEHOVAH said to Moshe, “Come up; go from here, you and your people whom you brought up from Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham and Isaac and Yaquuv and I said to them, ‘To your seed I shall give it.’ And I shall send before you the Messenger and he shall destroy the Canaanites and the Amorites and the Khithites and the Perizites and the Khivites and the Yebusites.

Samaritan Pentateuch           And the LORD said unto Moses to say, Depart, [and] go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:

And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashites, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

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: lest I consume thee in the way.

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord said to Moses, Go forward, go up from here, you and your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, into the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed. And I will send at the same time My angel before your face, and he shall cast out the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Girgashite and the Hivite and the Jebusite and the Canaanite. And I will bring you into a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up with you, because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you by the way.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And the Lord said to Moses, Go forward from this place, you and the people whom you have taken up out of the land of Egypt, to that land about which I made an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, To your seed will I give it. 

And I will send an angel before you, driving out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite: 

Go up to that land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, for fear that I send destruction on you while you are on the way.

Easy English                          Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘You must now leave here with the people that you brought out of Egypt. You must take them to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I made a serious promise to them that I would give the land to their descendants. I will send an angel to lead you. I will chase the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites out of the land. You will go to that land where there is plenty of food and drink, enough for everyone. But I will not travel with you. You are proud people who refuse to obey me. If I go with you, I might destroy you as you travel.’

descendant

Child, grandchild, and any future child born to them.

angel

Servant of God who is a spirit. They serve God in heaven and God sends them to do what he wants.

Canaanites

People who lived in the land of Canaan.

Hittite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite and Jebusite

one of a group of people who had lived in Canaan before the Jews lived there.

proud

(1) how someone feels when he has done something well. — (2) when someone thinks that he is better than other people. Proud people think that they are very important.

Easy-to-Read Version–2006  Then the LORD said to Moses, "You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land that I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I promised them that I would give that land to their descendants. So I will send an angel to go before you, and I will defeat the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. I will force them to leave your land. So go to the land filled with many good things, but I will not go with you. You people are very stubborn. If I go with you, I might destroy you along the way."

God’s Word™                         .

Good News Bible (TEV)         The LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought out of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to their descendants. I will send an angel to guide you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. You are going to a rich and fertile land. But I will not go with you myself, because you are a stubborn people, and I might destroy you on the way."

The Message                         God said to Moses: “Now go. Get on your way from here, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Head for the land which I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel ahead of you and I’ll drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. It’s a land flowing with milk and honey. But I won’t be with you in person—you’re such a stubborn, hard-headed people!—lest I destroy you on the journey.”

Names of God Bible               The Lord Assures Moses That He Will Have Mercy on Israel

Then Yahweh said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send a Messenger ahead of you, and I will force out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Go to that land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not be with you, because you are impossible to deal with, and I would destroy you on the way.”

NIRV                                      Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place. You and the people you brought up out of Egypt must leave it. Go up to the land I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I said to them, ‘I will give it to your children after you.’ I will send an angel ahead of you. I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land that has plenty of milk and honey. But I will not go with you. You are stubborn. I might destroy you on the way.”

New Simplified Bible              Jehovah said to Moses: »You and the people you brought out of Egypt must leave this place. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath, saying: ‘I will give it to your descendants.’«

»I will send an angel ahead of you. I will force out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

»Go to that land flowing with milk and honey. I will not be with you, because you are impossible to deal with. I would probably destroy you on the way.«

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Contemporary English V.       The LORD said to Moses: You led the people of Israel out of Egypt. Now get ready to lead them to the land I promised their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land rich with milk and honey, and I will send an angel to force out those people who live there--the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. I would go with my people, but they are so rebellious that I would destroy them before they get there.

The Living Bible                     The Lord said to Moses, “Lead these people you brought from Egypt to the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I said, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ I will send an Angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. It is a land ‘flowing with milk and honey’; but I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn, unruly people, and I would be tempted to destroy you along the way.”

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    Israel Leaves Mount Sinai

The Lord said to Moses, “Go away from this place, you and the people you have brought out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your children.’ I will send an angel before you. And I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a strong-willed people and I might destroy you on the way.”

New Living Translation           The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”

Unlocked Dynamic Bible        .

Unfolding Bible (simplified)    Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Leave this place and go 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. I will send my angel ahead of you, and I will remove from that land the people of Canaan, Amor, Heth, Periz, Hiv, and Jebus. 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 stubborn people."

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Then the Lord told Moses:

‘Go on! You and the people that you brought out of the land of Egypt must leave now and go to the land that I promised to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, when I said,

I will give this [land] to your seed. For I will send My messenger ahead of you, and he will throw out the Amorites, Chettites, Pherezites, Gergeshites, Evites, Jebusites, and CanaAnites, then I will bring you into a land that flows with milk and honey.

However, I won’t be going with you, for fear that I will destroy you along the way, because you’re such a stubborn people!’

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           The Lord: “I can’t go”

The Lord said to Moses, “Go and leave this place, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’ I’ll send a messenger before you. I’ll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go to this land full of milk and honey. But I won’t go up with you because I would end up destroying you along the way since you are a stubborn people.”

New Advent (Knox) Bible       And now a new message came to Moses from the Lord, March on, then, with the people thou hast led out of Egypt; make thy way hence to the land I promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob should be the home of their race. I am ready to send an angel who will go before thee, so as to cast out Chanaanite, Amorrhite, Hethite, Pherezite, Hevite and Jebusite, and bring thee into the land that is all milk and honey. But I will not go with thee myself, stiff-necked people as thou art, or I might be moved to destroy thee on the way.

Translation for Translators                        Yahweh further rebuked and warned the Israeli people

Yahweh said to Moses/me, “Leave this place and go 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. I will send my angel ahead of you all, and I will expel from that land the Canaan, Amor, Heth, Periz, Hiv, and Jebus people-groups. You will go to a land that will be very good for raising livestock and growing crops [IDM]. But I will not go with you myself, because if I did that, I might get rid of you while you are traveling, because you are very stubborn [IDM] people.”

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Conservapedia                       And the LORD told Moses, depart, and go to that place, you and the people whom you have taken out of the land of Egypt, to the land I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, to your seed will I give it: I will send an angel before you, and I will expel the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: To the land flowing with milk and honey: because I will not go up in the midst of you, because you are an ungrateful people: so I will not consume you in the way.

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                Then the Ever-living said to Moses; "Go from here; you and the people whom you brought up from the land of the Mitzeraim to the land which I promised to Abraham, and to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, To your descendants I will give it.

'And I will send My Messenger before your face, and drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hitites, the Perizites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, from the land flowing with milk and honey.—Yet I shall not bring you straight to it, for you are a stiff-necked people, therefore I shall march you by a journey."

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           And the Lord said unto Moses: depart and go from this place : both you and the people which you have brought out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I swore unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying: unto your seed I will give it. And I will send an angel before you, and will cast out the Cananites, the Amorites, the Hethites, the Pherezites, the Hevites, and the Jebusites: that you may go in to a land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not go among you myself, for you are a stiffnecked people: least I consume you by the way.

HCSB                                     The Tent Outside the Camp

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go, leave here, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your offspring. I will send an angel ahead of you and will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, [Sam, LXX add Girgashites] Hivites, and Jebusites. 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.”

International Standard V        The Lord Instructs Israel to Leave

The Lord told Moses, “Go up [Lit. go, go up] from here, you and the people whom you brought out of Egypt, to the land about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saying, ‘I’ll give it to your descendants.’ [Lit. your seed] I’ll send an angel in front of you and I’ll drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I won’t go up among you, because you are an obstinate [Lit. stiff-necked] people, and otherwise I might consume you along the way.”

Jubilee Bible 2000                  .

Lexham English Bible            Command to Resume Travel

And Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’

And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, [Hebrew “Canaanite”] the Amorites, [Hebrew “Amorite”] and the Hittites [Hebrew “Hittite”] and the Perizzites, [Hebrew “Perizzite”] the Hivites, [Hebrew “Hivite”] and the Jebusites, [Hebrew “Jebusite”] Go to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go up among you, because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the way.”

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Bible Literal Text    .

Unlocked Literal Bible            .

Urim-Thummim Version         YHWH spoke to Moses, Depart and go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt to the land that I adjured to Abraham, Isaac, and to Jacob saying, unto your offspring will I bestow it. And I will send an angel in front of you and I will drive out the Canaanite, Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite, and the Jebusite. Unto a land flowing with milk and honey, for I will not go up in the middle of you because you are an obstinate people for fear I'd destroy you on the journey.

Wikipedia Bible Project          And Yahweh spoke to Moses:
Go, arise from this, you and the people which you have brought up from the land of Egypt: to the land which I have sworn to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying "I will give it to your seed"

And I have sent before you an angel. And I will evict the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Prizite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

To a land flowing with milk and honey. Because I will not go up within you, because a hard-headed people are you--- lest I will consume you on the way.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  The mercy of Yahweh for the people

Yahweh said to Moses, “Go now! Leave this place, you and the people you brought out from the land of Egypt and go to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said: ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an Angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites. But I will not go with you to this land flowing with milk and honey, for you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” Num 10:11

The Heritage Bible                 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, Walk, ascend from this place, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed; And I will send before your face a messenger, and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; Walk to a land flowing milk and honey, because I will not go up in the midst of you, because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I end you in the way.

New American Bible (2002)             .

New American Bible(2011)    The LORD spoke to Moses: Go! You and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt are to go up from here to the land about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: I will give it to your descendants.^a Driving out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, I will send an angel before you^b to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I myself will not go up in your company, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise I might consume you on the way.

a. [33:1] Gn 12:7.

b. [33:2] Ex 23:23.

New English Bible–1970        The prohibition of the wearing of jewellery.

THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSES 'Come, go up from here, you and the people you have brought up from Egypt, to the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their posterity. I will send an angel ahead of you, and will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites. I will bring you to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not journey in your company, for fear that I annihilate you on the way; for you are a stubborn people.'

New Jerusalem Bible             .

New RSV                               .

Revised English Bible–1989   THE LORD spoke to Moses: “Set out, you and the people you have brought up from Egypt, go from here to the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I shall send an angel ahead of you, and drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites. I shall bring you to a land flowing with milk and honey, but I shall not journey in your company, for fear that I should destroy you on the way, for you are a stubborn people.”

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           Adonai said to Moshe, “Leave, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt; and move on from here toward the land of which I swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel ahead of you; and I will drive out the Kena‘ani, Emori, Hitti, P’rizi, Hivi and Y’vusi. You will go to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I myself will not go with you, because you are such a stiffnecked people that I might destroy you on the way.”

exeGeses companion Bible   And Yah Veh words to Mosheh,

Go and ascend there

- you and the people

whom you ascended from the land of Misrayim,

to the land I oathed

to Abraham, to Yischaq and to Yaaqov,

saying, To your seed I give it:

and I send an angel at your face;

and I expel the Kenaaniy

the Emoriy and the Hethiy and the Perizziy

the Hivviy and the Yebusiy

to a land flowing with milk and honey:

for I ascend not in your midst;

for you are a hard necked people:

lest I finish you off in the way.

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Israeli Authorized Version      .

Kaplan Translation                 Moses and the Decree

God declared to Moses, 'You and the people you took out of Egypt will have to leave this place and go to the land regarding which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that I would give it to their descendants.

I will send an angel ahead of you, and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizites, Hivites and Jebusites.

'[You will thus go to] a land flowing with milk and honey. However, I will not go with you, since you are an unbending people, and I may destroy you along the way.'

Canaanites...

See note on Exodus 3:8.

unbending

Literally, 'stiff-necked.' The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Exodus through Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.

The Scriptures 2009              And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Come, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Mitsrayim, to the land of which I swore to Araham, to Yitshaq, and to Ya‛aqo, saying, ‘To your seed I give it.’ 

“And I shall send My Messenger before you, and I shall drive out the Kena‛anite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hiwwite and the Yeusite, 

to a land flowing with milk and honey. For I do not go up in your midst because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.”

Tree of Life Version                Then Adonai said to Moses, “Leave, get out of this place, you and the people that you have brought out of the land of Egypt, into the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob saying, ‘I will give it to your seed.’

I will send an angel before you. I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and the Jebusites. Head up into a land flowing with milk and honey, but I will not move within the midst of you, so that I do not destroy you along the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND JESUS SAID TO MOSES, “GO FORWARD, GO UP THERE, YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE, WHOM YOU BROUGHT OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, INTO THE LAND WHICH I SWORE TO ABRAAM, AND ISAAC, AND JACOB, SAYING, ‘I WILL GIVE IT TO YOUR SEED.

AND I WILL SEND AT THE SAME TIME MY MANIFESTATION/MESSENGER/REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE YOUR FACE, AND HE SHALL CAST OUT THE AMORITE AND THE CHETTITE, AND THE PHEREZITE AND GERGESITE, AND HIVITE, AND JEBUSITE, AND CANAANITES.

AND I WILL BRING YOU INTO A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY; FOR I WILL NOT GO UP WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE A STIFF-NECKED PEOPLE, LEST I CONSUME YOU BY THE WAY.’”

Awful Scroll Bible                   Sustains To Become was to speak with Moses: Be proceeding, be going up with the people, that were brought up from the solid grounds of Egypt, to the solid grounds I am to have sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to the intent: To your seed was I to grant it. I am to have sent out an angelic messenger turned before you, even am I to have driven out the Canaanite, Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite; to the solid grounds flowing with milk and honey. Was I to go up among you? - Yous are a stiff necked people - was I to put an end to yous in the journey? -

Concordant Literal Version    Yahweh spoke to Moses: Go up hence, you and the people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land about which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, saying: To your seed shall I give it.

And I will send before you My messenger. I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite.

And I shall bring you into a land gushing with milk and honey. For I shall not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I should finish you on the way.

Darby Translation (1889)       .

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And Hashem said unto Moshe, Depart, and go from here, thou and HaAm which thou hast brought up out of Eretz Mitzrayim, unto HaAretz which I swore unto Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Ya'akov, saying, Unto thy zera will I give it;

And I will send a Malach before thee; and I will drive out the Kena'ani, the Emori, the Chitti, the Perizzi, the Chivi, and the Yevusi;

Unto an Eretz zavat cholov and devash; for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art an Am Kesheh Oref (stiffnecked, obstinate people); lest I consume thee in HaDerech.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. Then spake Yahweh unto Moses—

Get thee awayˎ go up from henceˎ ||thouˎ and the people whom thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt||,—into the land of which I sware to Abrahamˎ to Isaacˎ and to Jacobˎ saying, <To thy seed> will I give it;

And I will send before thee a messenger,—and will drive out the Canaaniteˎ the Amorite,^a and the Hittiteˎ and the Perizzite, the^b Hiviteˎ and the Jebusite; into a land flowing with milk and honey,—for I will not go up in thy midst^ˎc in that <a stiff-necked people> thou art, lest I consume theeˎ in the way.

^a Some cod. (w. Sam., Syr. and Onk. ear. pr. edn.): “and the”— G.n.

^b Some cod. (Sam., Onk. MS., Sep., Syr.): “and the”—G.n.

^c Hence an inferior messenger would seem to be here intended—not that mentioned in chap. xxiii. 20, 21.

Third Millennium Bible            .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                The Journey Resumed

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought from the land of Egypt, to the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel), saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ I will send an Angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Go up to a land [of abundance] ^[a]flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are a stiff-necked (stubborn, rebellious) people, and I might destroy you on the way.

^[a] Exodus 33:3 This phrase referred to the abundant fertility of the land of Canaan. Milk (typically that of goats and sheep) was associated with abundance; “honey” referred mainly to syrups made from dates or grapes and was the epitome of sweetness. Bees’ honey was very rare and was considered the choicest of foods.

The Expanded Bible              Then the Lord said to Moses, “You and the people you brought out of Egypt must ·leave [^L go up from] this place. Go to the land that I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give that land to your ·descendants [^L seed; Gen. 12:1–3].’ I will send an ·angel [or messenger] ·to lead [^L before] you, and I will ·force [drive] these people out of the land: the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Go up to a ·fertile land [^L land flowing with milk and honey; 3:8]. But I will not go with you, because I might ·destroy [consume] you on the way, since you are such a ·stubborn people [stiff-necked people].”

Kretzmann’s Commentary    Verses 1-11

The Sorrow of the People over their Sins

And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it. The intercession of Moses in behalf of the children of Israel had been successful: the Lord, in accordance with the promise given to the patriarchs, did not destroy the people, did not even withdraw the special Messianic feature of the promise, although His pardon, for the present, was limited.

And I will send an angel before thee, Cf Exodus 32:34; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

unto a land flowing with milk and honey, distinguished for its extraordinary fruitfulness; for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiff-necked people; lest I consume thee in the way. Because they had shown themselves a people with a rigid neck, Exodus 32:9, as incorrigible as a stubborn draught-animal, therefore the Lord, for the time being, withdrew His presence from their midst. His purpose was to lead the people to a proper estimate of their guilt and thus to full repentance; for as it was, their willful transgressions continually challenged destruction. This announcement had the desired effect.

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               Eternal One (instructing Moses): The time has now arrived. Leave, and take all the people you have led out of Egypt with you. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom I said, “I will give this land to your future generations.” I will send a messenger to guide you, and I will force out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites. Travel to the land that flows with milk and honey, the land of your inheritance. However, because you are such an incredibly stubborn people, I will not be going with you. Otherwise, I would completely destroy you during the journey.

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           The Lord spoke to Moses: "Go, ascend from here, you and the people you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: 'I will give it to your descendants.'

I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivvites, and the Jebusites...

...to a land flowing with milk and honey; because I will not go up in your midst since you are a stiff necked people, lest I destroy you on the way."

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 .

NET Bible®                             The Lord said to Moses, “Go up¹ from here, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land I promised on oath² to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’³ I will send an angel⁴ before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.⁵ Go up⁶ to a land flowing with milk and honey. But⁷ I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you⁸ on the way.”

^1tn The two imperatives underscore the immediacy of the demand: “go, go up,” meaning “get going up” or “be on your way.”

^2tn Or “the land which I swore.”

^3tn Heb “seed.”

^4sn This seems not to be the same as the Angel of the Presence introduced before.

^5sn See T. Ishida, “The Structure and Historical Implications of Lists of Pre-Israelite Nations,” Bib (1979): 461-90.

^6tn This verse seems to be a continuation of the command to “go up” since it begins with “to a land….” The intervening clauses are therefore parenthetical or relative. But the translation is made simpler by supplying the verb.

^7tn This is a strong adversative here, “but.”

^8tn The clause is “lest I consume you.” It would go with the decision not to accompany them: “I will not go up with you…lest I consume (destroy) you in the way.” The verse is saying that because of the people’s bent to rebellion, Yahweh would not remain in their midst as he had formerly said he would do. Their lives would be at risk if he did.

New American Bible(2011)    .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Brenner’s Mechanical Trans....and "YHWH ^{He Is}" spoke to "Mosheh ^{Plucked out}", walk, go up from this place, you and the people which you made go up from the land of "Mits'rayim ^{Two straits}", which I swore to "Avraham ^{Father lifted}" to "Yits'hhaq ^{He laughs}" and to "Ya'aqov ^{He restrains}" saying, I will give her to your seed, and I will send a messenger <in front of> you, and I will cast out the one of "Kena'an ^Lowered", the one of "Emor ^Sayer" and the one of "Hhet ^{Trembling in fear}" and the one of "Perez ^Peasant", the one of "Hhiw ^Town" and the one of "Yevus ^{He will trample down}", to a land issuing fat and honey , given that I will not go up <among> you, given that you are a hard necked people, otherwise, I will finish you in the road,...

Charles Thompson OT           .

C. Thompson LXX (updated) .

Context Group Version          .

English Standard Version      .

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version           .

New American Standard B.    The Journey Resumed

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your ^[a]descendants I will give it.’ And I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are ^[b]an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.”

^[a] Exodus 33:1 Lit seed

^[b] Exodus 33:3 Or a stiff-necked

New European Version          The Tent of Meeting

Yahweh spoke to Moses, Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your seed’. I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in the midst of you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you in the way.

New King James Version       The Command to Leave Sinai

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I ^[a]consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked^[b] people.”

^[a] Exodus 33:3 destroy

^[b] Exodus 33:3 stubborn

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Owen's Translation                .

Restored Holy Bible 6.0         .

Updated Bible Version 2.11   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young’s Updated LT             And Jehovah speaks unto Moses, “Go, ascend from this place , you and the people, whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I have sworn to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, To your seed I give it,” (and I have sent before you a messenger, and have cast out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite,) unto a land flowing with milk and honey, for I do not go up in your midst, for you are a stiff-necked people—lest I consume you in the way.”

The gist of this passage:     God tells Moses that it is time for the people to leave the Mount Sinai region and travel towards the land God has promised them. God will not go with them, however; He will send an angel to go with them instead.

Translation: [Later,] Y^ehowah said to Moses,...

It does not appear to me that Moses is going up on the mountain at this point, but that he is meeting Y^ehowah elsewhere. In this chapter, a tent (or the Tabernacle) will be mentioned (vv. 7–11). Let me suggest that there is a tent which Moses erected which we might best understand to be the pre-Tabernacle. This is the first chapter where such an existing structure is clearly delineated, but the Tabernacle that we are most familiar with will not actually be built until Exodus 36. That Tabernacle will be put into service in Exodus 40.

So, when Moses wanted to commune with God, he would go to this tent. Has this been the case since Egypt or was this established only after beginning their trek out of Egypt? We do not know for certain. However, it is possible (and reasonable) that we first hear of this particular tent back in Exodus 18:7. Moses is speaking with his father-in-law, being given advice; and they go into the tent (the Hebrew word for tent and tabernacle is the same). A lot of apparent contradictions are solved by understanding there to be a pre-Tabernacle tent established already.

For many apparent contradictions, I often offer up several explanations. This particular explanation (that there are two tents) really covers many or all of the bases; so I will not be delving into others (at least, not in detail).

Translation: ...“Depart; go up from here,...

As we often find in the Hebrew, there are two imperatives thrown together. Although these imperatives are given together, the second one is more properly placed with v. 3 (which I will do). In fact, this may be the proper way to understand many pairs of imperatives. The speaker may have in mind two sets of things that he wants the hearer to do; and he gives the imperatives first and then he expands on them.

This is somewhat confusing, because it is unclear when exactly the Israelites actually gather themselves up and clear out (that does not take place until the book of Numbers). There is a great deal which has to be done, which makes more sense for them to do it right there (making the Tabernacle and the furniture for it). Moses will go back up Mount Sinai (Exodus 34); there will be a great deal of construction which takes place (Exodus 35–40); and there will be a whole set of sacrifices described in the initial chapters of Leviticus. Almost all that follows in Leviticus is more laws and regulations.

The Israelites will celebrate the second Passover at Mount Sinai in Numbers 9:1–5.

So Israel does not leave Sinai until Numbers 11. So we need to take that into consideration when reading and understanding this passage.

Now, for us, it is a very long distance between Exodus 33 and Numbers 11. However, given all that has happened, the time between these two chapters is perhaps 9 months (give or take). Nevertheless, it is still odd that God would talk to Abraham about leaving; yet Israel does not pack up and leave for another 9 or so months. However, when we get further into the interaction between God and Moses, Moses will appear to make God change His mind about Israel—and that would help explain why this order to move out is not followed the next day. See, Does God Change His Mind? (In the addendum)

To help with the overall timing, recall that the first Passover was observed in Egypt. The second Passover (future from this narrative) will be observed at Sinai. The people will move out from Mount Sinai after celebrating the second Passover. Numbers 10:11–13 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony, and the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. They set out for the first time at the command of the LORD by Moses. (ESV) Israel will be guided by the cloud of God.

So Israel spends a very eventful year at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Precept Austin, I noticed, does not seem to think anything odd about this time schedule. However, I believe that the timing here is an important consideration—at least important enough to discuss in more detail.

Translation: ...you and the people whom you have brought up from the land to Egypt...

Throughout this passages, we find the 2^nd person masculine singular pronoun or the 2^nd person masculine singular suffix used. Whether we should understand this to be addressed directly to Moses or whether it applies to the people (a masculine singular noun), is difficult to determine.

I will assume that God is speaking directly to Moses, so that the 2^nd person masculine singular is the proper way to address him; but that the people of Israel are included by implication in many of the things which God says.

What God is telling Moses to do is to depart from where they are and to go up to the land which He promised them. Moses is to do this with the people—the Israelites—who he brought out of Egypt. Although there is no motivation attributed to God’s orders, I would say that Israel’s repulsive behavior with the golden calf is the reason. Israel cannot stay right here, in such close proximity with God. God might just destroy them.