Exodus 33:5

“For the Lord had said to Moses, etc.] At the same time he had told it to the people: say unto the children of Israel: Menachem, as quoted by Ainsworth, observes, that this is said in a way of mercy; for since their idolatry he had only called them the people of Moses, and the people, but now calls them by their beloved name, the children of Israel; but whether this was any hint of mercy and favour, is not very apparent by what follows: ye [are] a stiffnecked people; obstinate and untractable, ((see Gill on “<023209>Exodus 32:9”)): I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee; before he threatens them that he would not go up in the midst of them, that is, in a way of…”

“put off thy ornaments--In seasons of mourning, it is customary with Eastern people to lay aside all gewgaws and divest themselves of their jewels, their gold, and every thing rich and splendid in their dress. This token of their sorrow the Lord required of His offending people. that I may know what to do unto thee--The language is accommodated to the feeble apprehensions of men. God judges the state of the heart by the tenor of the conduct. In the case of the Israelites, He cherished a design of mercy; and the moment He discerned the first symptoms of contrition, by their stripping off their ornaments, as penitents conscious of their error and sincerely sorrowful, this fact added its weight…”

“I will come up ... - Better; If I were to go up for one moment in the midst of thee, I should consume thee. That I may know ... - By that sign of their repentance Yahweh would decide in what way they were to be punished. return to 'Top of Page'”

“I will come up - As if he had said, ye deserve that I should do so. Put off thine ornaments, that I may know what to do with thee - That is, put thyself into the posture of a penitent, that the dispute may be determined in thy favour, and mercy may rejoice against judgment. Exodus 33:6”

“Ye are: Exo 33:3; Num 16:45, Num 16:46 in a moment: Num 16:21, Num 16:45; Job 34:20; Psa 73:19; Lam 4:6 put off: Isa 22:12 I may: Gen 18:21, Gen 22:12; Deu 8:2; Psa 139:23 Exodus 33:6”

“That this good beginning of repentance might lead to a true and permanent change of heart, Jehovah repeated His threat in a most emphatic manner: "Thou art a stiff-necked people; if I go a moment in the midst of thee, I destroy thee:" i.e., if I were to go up in the midst of thee for only a single moment, I should be compelled to destroy thee because of thine obduracy. He then issued this command: "Throw thine ornament away from thee, and I shall know (by that) what to do to thee." Exodus 33:6”