The Lord Orders Israel to Leave Mount Sinai
1 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. 2 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. 3 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.”
4 When the people heard this, they began to mourn and did not wear jewelry any more. 5 For the Lord had commanded Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I would completely destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.” 6 So after they left Mount Sinai, the people of Israel no longer wore jewelry.
The Tent of the Lord's Presence
7 Whenever the people of Israel set up camp, Moses would take the sacred Tent and put it up some distance outside the camp. It was called the Tent of the Lord's presence, and anyone who wanted to consult the Lord would go out to it. 8 Whenever Moses went out there, the people would stand at the door of their tents and watch Moses until he entered it. 9 After Moses had gone in, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the door of the Tent, and the Lord would speak to Moses from the cloud. 10 As soon as the people saw the pillar of cloud at the door of the Tent, they would bow down. 11 The Lord would speak with Moses face-to-face, just as someone speaks with a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But the young man who was his helper, Joshua son of Nun, stayed in the Tent.
The Lord Promises to Be with His People
12 Moses said to the Lord, “It is true that you have told me to lead these people to that land, but you did not tell me whom you would send with me. You have said that you know me well and are pleased with me. 13 Now if you are, tell me your plans, so that I may serve you and continue to please you. Remember also that you have chosen this nation to be your own.”
14 The Lord said, “I will go with you, and I will give you victory.”
15 Moses replied, “If you do not go with us, don't make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with your people and with me if you do not go with us? Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth.”
17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will do just as you have asked, because I know you very well and I am pleased with you.”
18 Then Moses requested, “Please, let me see the dazzling light of your presence.”
19 The Lord answered, “I will make all my splendor pass before you and in your presence I will pronounce my sacred name. I am the Lord, and I show compassion and pity on those I choose. 20 I will not let you see my face, because no one can see me and stay alive, 21 but here is a place beside me where you can stand on a rock. 22 When the dazzling light of my presence passes by, I will put you in an opening in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back but not my face.”
1 Un Tas Kungs runāja uz Mozu: "Ej, celies no šejienes, tu un tauta, kuru tu esi izvedis no Ēģiptes zemes, un dodies uz zemi, ko Es esmu ar zvērestu apsolījis Ābrahāmam, Īzākam un Jēkabam, sacīdams: Es to došu taviem pēcnācējiem. 2 Un Es Savu eņģeli sūtīšu tev pa priekšu un izdzīšu kānaāniešus, amoriešus, hetiešus, ferisiešus, hīviešus un jebusiešus. 3 Tā ir zeme, kurā piens un medus tek; bet Es pats neiešu jums līdzi, jo jūs esat spītīgi ļaudis, ka Es ceļā jūs neiznīcinu." 4 Kad tauta dzirdēja šos bargos vārdus, tā sāka sērot, un neviens vairs negribēja valkāt savas rotas. 5 Un Tas Kungs sacīja uz Mozu: "Saki Israēla bērniem: jūs esat spītīgi ļaudis; ja tikai Es būtu jūsu vidū vienu mirkli, Es jūs varētu iznīcināt. Bet nu nolieciet savas rotas, tad Es izlemšu, ko darīt ar jums." 6 Un Israēla bērni noņēma savas rotas Horeba kalna priekšā. 7 Tad Mozus ņēma telti un uzcēla to tālu ārpus nometnes un nosauca to par Saiešanas telti. Ikvienam, kas meklēja To Kungu, bija jāiet uz Saiešanas telti ārpus nometnes. 8 Un notika, ik reizes, kad Mozus gāja uz šo telti, ļaudis piecēlās, un ikviens nostājās savas dzīvojamās telts durvīs un noraudzījās pakaļ Mozum, līdz tas iegāja teltī. 9 Un notika, ik reizes, kad Mozus iegāja teltī, nāca mākoņu stabs un apstājās telts durvīs, un Viņš runāja ar Mozu. 10 Un visa tauta redzēja mākoņu stabu stāvam telts durvīs, un visi ļaudis cēlās un ikviens metās pie zemes savas telts durvīs. 11 Un Tas Kungs runāja ar Mozu vaigu vaigā, kā kāds sarunājas ar savu draugu. Un, kad viņš atgriezās nometnē, viņa kalps Jozua, Nūna dēls, vēl jauneklis, palika teltī. 12 Un Mozus sacīja Tam Kungam: "Redzi, Tu man saki: vadi šo tautu augšup! - Bet Tu man nesaki, ko Tu sūtīsi ar mani, kaut gan Tu esi sacījis: Es tevi saucu tavā vārdā, un tu esi labvēlību atradis Manās acīs. 13 Bet tagad, ja es esmu labvēlību atradis Tavās acīs, tad, lūdzams, liec man zināt Tavu ceļu, lai es Tevi zinātu un varētu atrast labvēlību Tavās acīs, un parādi arī, ka šie ļaudis ir Tava tauta." 14 Un Viņš sacīja: "Es pats iešu ar tevi, un Es došu tev mieru." 15 Tad Mozus sacīja: "Ja Tu pats neiesi mums līdzi, tad neved mūs prom no šejienes. 16 Jo no kā lai varētu zināt, ka es un Tava tauta esam labvēlību atraduši Tavās acīs? Vai ne no tā, ka Tu mūs vadi, tā ka mēs, es un Tava tauta, atšķiramies no visām citām tautām, kas virs zemes." 17 Un Tas Kungs sacīja Mozum: "Es darīšu arī šo lietu, ko tu esi pieminējis; jo tu esi atradis labvēlību Manās acīs un Es tevi saucu vārdā." 18 Tad Mozus sacīja: "Rādi man, lūdzams, Savu godību!" 19 Un Viņš sacīja: "Es likšu visai Savai godībai iet garām tavā priekšā, un Es saukšu tavā priekšā Tā Kunga Vārdu. Jo Es esmu žēlīgs, kam esmu žēlīgs, un, par ko Es apžēlojos, par to Es apžēlojos." 20 Bet Viņš sacīja: "Manu vaigu tu nedrīksti redzēt, jo cilvēks nevar Mani redzēt un palikt dzīvs." 21 Un Tas Kungs sacīja: "Redzi, še pie Manis ir vieta, kur tu vari nostāties uz klints. 22 Un notiks, kad Mana godība ies tev garām, Es likšu tev stāvēt klints spraugā un segšu pār tevi Savu roku, līdz kamēr būšu pagājis garām. 23 Un, kad Es pacelšu Savu roku, tu Mani redzēsi no muguras, bet Mans vaigs nebūs redzams."
