Exodus 32:34

“Therefore now go, lead the people [unto the] place of which I have spoken unto thee, etc.] That is, to the land of Canaan, which he had promised to their fathers and to them, and had directed Moses to bring them to: behold, mine angel shall go before thee: and not I, as Jarchi interprets it; not the Angel of the covenant, and of his presence, as in (<022320>Exodus 23:20) but a created angel, which, though a favour, was a lessening of the mercy before promised and granted; and which gave the people a great deal of concern, though Moses by his supplications got the former blessing restored, (<023302>Exodus 33:2,4,14,17): nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them;…”

“The faithfulness of Moses in the office that had been entrusted to him was now to be put to the test. It was to be made manifest whether he loved his own glory better than he loved the brethren who were under his charge; whether he would prefer that he should himself become the founder of a “great nation,” or that the Lord’s promise should be fulfilled in the whole people of Israel. This may have been especially needful for Moses, in consequence of his natural disposition. See Numbers 12:3; and compare Exodus 3:11. With this trial of Moses repeated in a very similar manner Numbers 14:11-23, may be compared the trial of Abraham Genesis 22:0 and of our Saviour Matthew 4:8-10. Exodus 32:8 These…”

“My angel shall go before them - Some created angel that was employed in the common services of his kingdom, which intimated that they were not to expect any thing for the future to be done for them out of the common road of providence. When I visit - Hereafter he shall see cause to punish them for other sins, I will visit for this among the rest. From hence the Jews have a saying, that from hence - forward no judgment fell upon Israel, but there was in it an ounce of the powder of the golden calf. Exodus 32:35”

“32:34 the place I told you about: Canaan, which God had promised to give to Abraham’s descendants (see 3:17; 32:13; 33:1). • when I come to call the people to account: Because of God’s mercy, judgment may not always come immediately (though in this instance God soon sent a plague, 32:35), but it will come for those who persist in sin (see Matt 13:24-30).”

“mine Angel: Exo 23:20, Exo 33:2, Exo 33:14, Exo 33:15; Num 20:16; Isa 63:9 the day: Exo 20:5; Num 14:27-30; Deu 32:35; Jer 5:9, Jer 5:29; Amo 3:14; Mat 23:35; Rom 2:4-6 Exodus 32:35”