The Tent of Meeting
Exodus 33:7-11
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Exo.33.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומשה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יקח: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האהל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ונטה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- מחוץ: PREP
- למחנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרחק: ADV
- מן: PREP
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וקרא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- כל: DET
- מבקש: VERB,qal,ptc,ms,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מחוץ: PREP
- למחנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.33:9-11 (structural): Immediate context — the Tent of Meeting functions as the locus where God appears in a pillar of cloud and where Moses meets and speaks with God, echoing v.7's description of the tent outside the camp.
- Exod.25:8,22 (thematic): God commands a sanctuary so He may 'dwell among' Israel and promises 'There I will meet with you' above the mercy seat — the same idea of a designated place for encountering YHWH (the Tent of Meeting).
- Lev.1:1 (verbal): Uses the phrase 'tabernacle/of the congregation' (Heb. ohel moed) as the place from which the LORD speaks to Moses, paralleling Exodus 33:7's naming of the Tent of Meeting as the place for seeking God.
- Num.11:24-25 (structural): Elders are placed 'round about the tabernacle' and the LORD's presence comes down on them — shows the tent as the communal center for divine presence and leadership, comparable to Exodus 33:7's role for seekers.
- Num.12:4-8 (allusion): God summons Moses, Aaron and Miriam to the tent and defends Moses' unique access to God 'face to face' in the tent — reinforces the Tent of Meeting as the privileged site of encounter described in Exod 33:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses used to take the tent and pitch it for himself outside the camp, far from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting; and everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the Tent of Meeting that was outside the camp.
- And Moses would take the tent and pitch it for himself outside the camp, far from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting; and everyone seeking the LORD would go out to the Tent of Meeting that was outside the camp.
Exo.33.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- כצאת: PREP+INFN,qal
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- האהל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יקומו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ונצבו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אהלו: NOUN,m,sg,construct+3,m,suf
- והביטו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אחרי: PREP
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- האהלה: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Exodus 33:7 (structural): Immediate context: verse 7 establishes the tent of meeting outside the camp where people seeking Yahweh went—verse 8 describes the people's behavior when Moses came and went to that tent.
- Exodus 18:13 (thematic): Both passages depict the people standing before Moses for attention and judgment—18:13 says the people 'stood around Moses from morning until evening,' a similar scene of public deference and assembly.
- Exodus 32:26 (thematic): Moses standing at the 'gate of the camp' and the people's collective response to him (’Who is for the LORD?’) parallels the motif of the nation rising and watching Moses whenever he appears.
- Deuteronomy 31:11–12 (thematic): Commands for all Israel to assemble at the appointed place to hear the law echo the motif of the whole people gathering/standing at the central locus (tent/meeting place) when matters of leadership and covenant are at issue.
Alternative generated candidates
- And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and they watched Moses until he entered the tent.
- And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and they would watch Moses until he entered the tent.
Exo.33.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- כבא: CONJ
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- האהלה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ירד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עמוד: NOUN,m,sg,const
- הענן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ועמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האהל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ודבר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עם: PREP
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exod.34.5–6 (verbal): Yahweh 'descended in the cloud and stood' with Moses; closely parallels the language and theophanic setting of God appearing in a cloud to speak with Moses.
- Exod.40.34–35 (structural): The cloud and glory of the LORD fill the tabernacle and prevent Moses from entering—parallels the cloud's presence at the tent and the special intimacy/limitation of access when God speaks.
- Num.9.15–23 (verbal): Describes the 'cloud over the tabernacle' and the pillar of cloud that rested by day and led the camp, echoing the motif of a cloud as God's dwelling‑presence and guide found in Exod.33:9.
- 1 Kgs.8.10–11 (thematic): When the ark is brought into Solomon's temple a cloud fills the house so the priests cannot minister—a later temple parallel emphasizing the cloud as God's presence and human inability to remain in his immediate glory.
Alternative generated candidates
- And whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
- And whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the entrance of the tent, and he would speak with Moses.
Exo.33.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וראה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- עמוד: NOUN,m,sg,const
- הענן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האהל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וקם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והשתחוו: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אהלו: NOUN,m,sg,construct+3,m,suf
Parallels
- Exod.13:21-22 (verbal): Earliest description of the pillar of cloud and fire that led Israel by day and night—same phenomenon standing with the camp and guiding the people.
- Exod.40:34-38 (verbal): Cloud/ glory covering the tabernacle and guiding Israel throughout their journeys; v.38 echoes the language of the cloud standing over the tent.
- Num.9:15-23 (structural): Regulates the movement of the camp according to when the cloud rested or lifted; emphasizes the cloud’s role at the tent of meeting and the people’s obedience when it stood.
- Ps.105:39 (allusion): Poetic retelling: God 'spread a cloud for a covering' over Israel—uses the cloud-image as a sign of divine guidance and presence.
- 1 Kgs.8:10-11 (thematic): The cloud filling Solomon’s temple (the glory of the Lord) parallels the visible manifestation of God’s presence over the tent, eliciting awe from the people.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent; and all the people would rise and bow down, each at the entrance of his tent.
- And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise and bow down, each at the entrance of his tent.
Exo.33.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ודבר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- פנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אל: NEG
- פנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כאשר: CONJ
- ידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ושב: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ומשרתו: NOUN,m,sg,cs+3ms
- יהושע: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ימיש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מתוך: PREP
- האהל: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Num.12.8 (verbal): God contrasts His communication with Moses—'mouth to mouth'/'not in riddles'—echoing the intimate, direct speech described in Exod 33:11.
- Deut.5.4 (verbal): Uses the same 'face to face' language for Yahweh's speaking at Sinai ('the LORD spoke with you face to face'), paralleling the motif of direct divine-human encounter.
- Deut.34.10 (allusion): Summarizes Moses' unique status: 'no prophet like Moses... whom the LORD knew face to face,' reflecting the exclusive intimacy of Exod 33:11.
- Gen.32.30 (verbal): Jacob's declaration 'I have seen God face to face' (Heb. 'panim el panim') uses the same idiom for close encounter with the divine, thematically resonant with Moses' experience.
- Exod.33.20 (thematic): God's statement 'you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live' forms a theological foil to Exod 33:11's 'face to face' speech—intimacy of speech but limits on beholding God's face.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his companion; and he would return to the camp, but his attendant Joshua son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from inside the tent.
- And the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend; then he would return to the camp, but his attendant Joshua son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from within the tent.
And Moses would take the tent and pitch it for himself outside the camp, far from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting. And it would be that everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the Tent of Meeting that was outside the camp. And it would be, when Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and they would watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. And when Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, and all the people would rise and bow down, each at the entrance of his tent. And the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp; but his attendant, Joshua son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from inside the tent.