Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Jack,

> I agree, I did not say that Yahweh s glory was His face, I
> merely said that Yahweh did not allow Moses to see either
> His face or His glory.  Based on the final passage of Ex 33
> Moses was able to see Yahweh and His goodness from behind,
> but not His glory.  However, I could see one might make the
> equation based solely on Ex 33, seeing as neither is
> visible from behind.  As you point out, His glory does show
> up else in the OT (e.g. Num 20:6) where several times
> without His face being seen.

HH: I can see where you get that idea from verses 
22-23, but if you add in the earlier verses, it 
becomes apparent what verses 22-23 mean:

Ex. 33:20 But," he said,  "you cannot see my 
face, for no one may see me and live."
Ex. 33:21 ¶ Then the LORD said,  "There is a 
place near me where you may stand on a rock.
Ex. 33:22 When my glory passes by, I will put you 
in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand 
until I have passed by.
Ex. 33:23 Then I will remove my hand and you will 
see my back; but my face must not be seen."

HH: The whole effort by the Lord to shield Moses 
is evidently to protect him from seeing God's 
face and dying. So he will see the glory, but not 
the face, of God.

                                        Yours,
                                        Harold Holmyard