Moses knew that his people were forgiven, but it hurt him to hear that an angel was henceforth to lead them. See 32:34. The burden of two and a half millions of people was too heavy for him to carry, even with angel-help. He must somehow secure the withdrawal of that sentence, “I will not go up in the midst of thee.” He spoke of it to the people, who awoke to realize what their sin had forfeited, and put off their jewels. But their leader gave himself to prayer. Since Sinal was too far to climb, he seems to have pitched his own tent outside the camp as a temporary meeting-place with God; and when he entered it the people said: “Look! he is going to pray for us;” and he spake with God face to face, as we may, of what -