Exodus 33:12

“And Moses said unto the Lord, etc.] Having returned from the camp to the tabernacle again; see, thou sayest unto me, bring up this people: from hence to the land of Canaan, as in (<023301>Exodus 33:1) and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me; to guide and direct him, help and assist him, protect and defend him, and the people with him; he had signified something of this kind, but by some expressions, and by his present conduct, he was at a loss to know who was to go with him: he had told him that the uncreated Angel, in whom his name and he himself were, should go with them; but now it had been declared that he would not go up in the midst of them himself, but send an angel,…”

“Moses now returned to the door of the tabernacle, as an important supplicant for two favours, and prevails for both: herein he was a type of Christ the great intercessor, whom the Father heareth always. He is earnest with God for a grant of his presence with Israel in the rest of their march to Canaan. Thou sayst, bring up this people - Lord, it is thou thyself that employest me, and wilt thou not own me? I am in the way of my duty, and shall I not have thy presence with me in that way? Yet, Thou hast said, I know thee by name, as a particular friend, and thou hast also found grace in my sight, above any other. Exodus 33:13”

“33:12-23 Moses begged for God to go with him and the people to the Promised Land. In these verses the word personally (33:14-15) usually reflects a Hebrew term literally rendered face. Moses wanted to continue experiencing the “face to face” relationship he had begun to have (33:11). He also wanted the people to have that experience in some sense. 33:12 I know you by name: Moses had been appointed by God himself.”

“See: Exo 33:1, Exo 32:34 I know: Exo 33:17; Gen 18:19; Psa 1:6; Isa 43:1; Jer 1:5; Joh 10:14, Joh 10:15; Ti2 2:19 Exodus 33:13”

“Jehovah had commanded Moses to lead the people to Canaan, and promised him the guidance of an angel; but He had expressly distinguished this angel from His own personal presence ( Exo 33:1-3). Moreover, though it has not been mentioned before, Jehovah had said to Moses, "I have known thee by name," - i.e., I have recognised thee as Mine, and chosen and called thee to execute My will (cf. Isa 43:1; Isa 49:1), or put thee into "a specifically personal relation to God, which was peculiar to Moses, and therefore was associated with his name" (Oehler); - "and thou hast also found grace in My eyes," inasmuch as God had granted a hearing to his former intercession. Moses now reminded the Lord of…”