The Command to Leave Sinai
(Deuteronomy 1:1–8)

1  וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר (And said) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses), לֵ֣ךְ (Depart), עֲלֵ֣ה (go up) מִזֶּ֔ה (from this place), אַתָּ֣ה (you) וְהָעָ֔ם (and the people) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֶֽעֱלִ֖יתָ (you have brought up) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt), אֶל־ (to) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) נִ֠שְׁבַּעְתִּי (I swore) לְאַבְרָהָ֨ם (to Abraham), לְיִצְחָ֤ק (to Isaac), וּֽלְיַעֲקֹב֙ (and to Jacob), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לְזַרְעֲךָ֖ (To your seed) אֶתְּנֶֽנָּה׃ (I will give it). 2  וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֥י (And I will send) לְפָנֶ֖יךָ (before your face) מַלְאָ֑ךְ (an angel), וְגֵֽרַשְׁתִּ֗י (and I will drive out) אֶת־ (-) הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ (the Canaanite), הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י (and the Amorite), וְהַֽחִתִּי֙ (and the Hittite), וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י (and the Perizzite), הַחִוִּ֖י (and the Hivite), וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃ (and the Jebusite). 3  אֶל־ (Go up to) אֶ֛רֶץ (a land) זָבַ֥ת (flowing) חָלָ֖ב (with milk) וּדְבָ֑שׁ (and honey); כִּי֩ (for) לֹ֨א (not) אֶֽעֱלֶ֜ה (I will go up) בְּקִרְבְּךָ֗ (among you), כִּ֤י (for) עַם־ (people) קְשֵׁה־ (stiff) עֹ֙רֶף֙ (necked) אַ֔תָּה (you are), פֶּן־ (lest) אֲכֶלְךָ֖ (I consume you) בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ (on the way).

4  וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (And heard) הָעָ֗ם (the people) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the word) הָרָ֛ע (the bad) הַזֶּ֖ה (this), וַיִּתְאַבָּ֑לוּ (and they mourned); וְלֹא־ (and no) שָׁ֛תוּ (put) אִ֥ישׁ (man) עֶדְי֖וֹ (his ornaments) עָלָֽיו׃ (on himself). 5  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And for had said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֗ה (Moses), אֱמֹ֤ר (Say) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), אַתֶּ֣ם (You⁺) עַם־ (people) קְשֵׁה־ (are stiff) עֹ֔רֶף (necked). רֶ֧גַע (In a moment) אֶחָ֛ד (one) אֶֽעֱלֶ֥ה (I will come up) בְקִרְבְּךָ֖ (among you) וְכִלִּיתִ֑יךָ (and I will consume you). וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הוֹרֵ֤ד (put down) עֶדְיְךָ֙ (your ornaments), מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ (from on you) וְאֵדְעָ֖ה (and I will know) מָ֥ה (what) אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ (I shall do) לָּֽךְ׃ (to you).

6  וַיִּֽתְנַצְּל֧וּ (And stripped themselves) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (of) עֶדְיָ֖ם (their ornaments) מֵהַ֥ר (from Mount) חוֹרֵֽב׃ (Horeb).

The Tent of Meeting

7  וּמֹשֶׁה֩ (And Moses) יִקַּ֨ח (took) אֶת־ (-) הָאֹ֜הֶל (the tent) וְנָֽטָה־ (and he pitched) ל֣וֹ׀ (it) מִח֣וּץ (outside) לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה (of the camp), הַרְחֵק֙ (far) מִן־ (from) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (the camp), וְקָ֥רָא (and he called) ל֖וֹ (it) אֹ֣הֶל (the Tent) מוֹעֵ֑ד (of Meeting). וְהָיָה֙ (And it came to pass that) כָּל־ (everyone) מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (seeking) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) יֵצֵא֙ (went out) אֶל־ (to) אֹ֣הֶל (the Tent) מוֹעֵ֔ד (of Meeting) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that was) מִח֥וּץ (outside) לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (of the camp). 8  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it came to pass) כְּצֵ֤את (as went out) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) אֶל־ (to) הָאֹ֔הֶל (the tent), יָק֙וּמוּ֙ (rose) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people), וְנִ֨צְּב֔וּ (and stood at) אִ֖ישׁ (each man) פֶּ֣תַח (door) אָהֳל֑וֹ (his tent), וְהִבִּ֙יטוּ֙ (and they looked) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses) עַד־ (until) בֹּא֖וֹ (he had gone into) הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ (the tent). 9  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it came to pass) כְּבֹ֤א (as entered) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) הָאֹ֔הֱלָה (the tent), יֵרֵד֙ (descended) עַמּ֣וּד (the pillar) הֶֽעָנָ֔ן (of the cloud) וְעָמַ֖ד (and it remained) פֶּ֣תַח (at the door) הָאֹ֑הֶל (of the tabernacle), וְדִבֶּ֖ר (and He talked) עִם־ (with) מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (Moses). 10  וְרָאָ֤ה (And saw) כָל־ (all) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֶת־ (-) עַמּ֣וּד (pillar) הֶֽעָנָ֔ן (of the cloud) עֹמֵ֖ד (remaining at) פֶּ֣תַח (the door) הָאֹ֑הֶל (of the tent); וְקָ֤ם (and rose) כָּל־ (all) הָעָם֙ (the people) וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוּ֔וּ (and bowed down), אִ֖ישׁ (each man) פֶּ֥תַח (at the door) אָהֳלֽוֹ׃ (of his tent).

11  וְדִבֶּ֨ר (And would speak) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) פָּנִ֣ים (face) אֶל־ (to) פָּנִ֔ים (face), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) יְדַבֵּ֥ר (speaks) אִ֖ישׁ (a man) אֶל־ (to) רֵעֵ֑הוּ (his friend). וְשָׁב֙ (And he would return) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (the camp), וּמְשָׁ֨רְת֜וֹ (and his minister) יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ (Joshua) בִּן־ (son) נוּן֙ (of Nun), נַ֔עַר (a young man), לֹ֥א (not) יָמִ֖ישׁ (would depart) מִתּ֥וֹךְ (from the midst) הָאֹֽהֶל׃ס (of the tent).

The Promise of God’s Presence

12  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֜ה (Moses) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), רְ֠אֵה (See), אַתָּ֞ה (You) אֹמֵ֤ר (are saying) אֵלַי֙ (to me), הַ֚עַל (Bring up) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וְאַתָּה֙ (and You) לֹ֣א (not) הֽוֹדַעְתַּ֔נִי (have made known to me) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) תִּשְׁלַ֖ח (You will send) עִמִּ֑י (with me). וְאַתָּ֤ה (And You) אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ (You have said), יְדַעְתִּ֣יךָֽ (I have known you) בְשֵׁ֔ם (by name), וְגַם־ (and also) מָצָ֥אתָ (you have found) חֵ֖ן (favor) בְּעֵינָֽי׃ (in My eyes). 13  וְעַתָּ֡ה (And now) אִם־ (if), נָא֩ (please), מָצָ֨אתִי (I have found) חֵ֜ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֗יךָ (in Your eyes), הוֹדִעֵ֤נִי (make known to me) נָא֙ (please) אֶת־ (-) דְּרָכֶ֔ךָ (Your ways), וְאֵדָ֣עֲךָ֔ (that I may know You), לְמַ֥עַן (in order that) אֶמְצָא־ (I may find) חֵ֖ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ (in Your eyes). וּרְאֵ֕ה (And consider) כִּ֥י (that) עַמְּךָ֖ (Your people) הַגּ֥וֹי (the nation) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this is).

14  וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (And He said), פָּנַ֥י (My Presence) יֵלֵ֖כוּ (will go with you) וַהֲנִחֹ֥תִי (and I will give rest) לָֽךְ׃ (to you).

15  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said) אֵלָ֑יו (to Him), אִם־ (If) אֵ֤ין (not) פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ (Your Presence) הֹלְכִ֔ים (does go with us), אַֽל־ (not) תַּעֲלֵ֖נוּ (do bring us up) מִזֶּֽה׃ (from this place). 16  וּבַמֶּ֣ה׀ (And by what) יִוָּדַ֣ע (will it be known) אֵפ֗וֹא (then) כִּֽי־ (that) מָצָ֨אתִי (I have found) חֵ֤ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (in Your eyes), אֲנִ֣י (I) וְעַמֶּ֔ךָ (and Your people), הֲל֖וֹא (is it not) בְּלֶכְתְּךָ֣ (by Your going) עִמָּ֑נוּ (with us), וְנִפְלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (and we will be distinguished) אֲנִ֣י (I) וְעַמְּךָ֔ (and Your people) מִכָּ֨ל־ (from all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who are) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הָאֲדָמָֽה׃פ (of the earth)?

17  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), גַּ֣ם (Also) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the word) הַזֶּ֛ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ (you have spoken) אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑ה (I will do), כִּֽי־ (for) מָצָ֤אתָ (you have found) חֵן֙ (favor) בְּעֵינַ֔י (in My eyes), וָאֵדָעֲךָ֖ (and I know you) בְּשֵֽׁם׃ (by name).

18  וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (And he said), הַרְאֵ֥נִי (Show me), נָ֖א (please), אֶת־ (-) כְּבֹדֶֽךָ׃ (Your glory).

19  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And He said), אֲנִ֨י (I) אַעֲבִ֤יר (will make pass) כָּל־ (all) טוּבִי֙ (My goodness) עַל־ (before) פָּנֶ֔יךָ (your face), וְקָרָ֧אתִֽי (and I will proclaim) בְשֵׁ֛ם (in the name) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (before your face), וְחַנֹּתִי֙ (and I will be gracious) אֶת־ (-) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (to whom) אָחֹ֔ן (I will be gracious), וְרִחַמְתִּ֖י (and I will have compassion) אֶת־ (-) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (on whom) אֲרַחֵֽם׃ (I will have compassion).

20  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And He said), לֹ֥א (Not) תוּכַ֖ל (you are able) לִרְאֹ֣ת (to see) אֶת־ (-) פָּנָ֑י (My face), כִּ֛י (for) לֹֽא־ (not) יִרְאַ֥נִי (shall see Me) הָאָדָ֖ם (a man) וָחָֽי׃ (and live).

21  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold) מָק֖וֹם (a place) אִתִּ֑י (by Me), וְנִצַּבְתָּ֖ (and you shall stand) עַל־ (on) הַצּֽוּר׃ (the rock). 22  וְהָיָה֙ (And it shall be), בַּעֲבֹ֣ר (when passes by) כְּבֹדִ֔י (My glory), וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךָ (that I will put you) בְּנִקְרַ֣ת (in the cleft) הַצּ֑וּר (of the rock) וְשַׂכֹּתִ֥י (and I will cover) כַפִּ֛י (My palm) עָלֶ֖יךָ (over you), עַד־ (until) עָבְרִֽי׃ (I pass by). 23  וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ (And I will take away) אֶת־ (-) כַּפִּ֔י (My palm), וְרָאִ֖יתָ (and you shall see) אֶת־ (-) אֲחֹרָ֑י (My back), וּפָנַ֖י (and My face) לֹ֥א (not) יֵרָאֽוּ׃ס (shall be seen).