When I meet with you, I will speak from between the Cherub angels [177] on the cover that is on the Box of the Agreement. [178] From that place I will give all my commands to the people of Israel.
So the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then the Lord gave him the two flat stones with the Agreement [325] on them. God used his finger and wrote on the stones.
In this way the Lord spoke to Moses face to face. The Lord spoke to Moses like a man speaks with his friend. After speaking with the Lord, Moses would go back to the camp. But his helper always stayed in the tent. This helper was Joshua son of Nun.
Any time Moses went out to the tent, all the people watched him. The people stood at the entrance of their tents and watched Moses until he entered the meeting tent.
No person will be allowed to come with you. No person should even be seen any place on the mountain. Even your herds of animals or flocks of sheep will not be allowed to eat grass at the bottom of the mountain.”
“Lord, if you are pleased with me, then please go with us. I know that these are stubborn people. But forgive us for the bad things we did! Accept us as your people.”
Then I will come down and speak with you there. The Spirit [158] is on you now. But I will also give some of that Spirit [159] to them. Then they will help you take care of the people. In this way, you will not have to be responsible for these people alone.
Moses went into the Meeting Tent [122] to speak to the Lord. At that time, he heard the Lord’s voice speaking to him. The voice was coming from the area between the two Cherub angels on the special cover [123] on top of the Box of the Agreement. [124] {This was the way} God spoke to Moses.
The Lord said to Moses, “Now the time is near for you to die. Get Joshua and come to the Meeting Tent. [204] I will tell Joshua the things he must do.” So Moses and Joshua went to the Meeting Tent.