Exodus 20:19

20:19 They said to Moses, “You speak ¹  to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die.”

Exodus 10:26

10:26 Our livestock must ²  also go with us! Not a hoof is to be left behind! For we must take ³  these animals ⁴  to serve the Lord our God. Until we arrive there, we do not know what we must use to serve the Lord.” ⁵ 

Exodus 33:16

33:16 For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?” ⁶ 

[20:19]  ¹ tn The verb is a Piel imperative. In this context it has more of the sense of a request than a command. The independent personal pronoun “you” emphasizes the subject and forms the contrast with God’s speaking.

[10:26]  ² tn This is the obligatory imperfect nuance. They were obliged to take the animals if they were going to sacrifice, but more than that, since they were not coming back, they had to take everything.

[10:26]  ³ tn The same modal nuance applies to this verb.

[10:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “from it,” referring collectively to the livestock.

[10:26]  ⁵ sn Moses gives an angry but firm reply to Pharaoh’s attempt to control Israel; he makes it clear that he has no intention of leaving any pledge with Pharaoh. When they leave, they will take everything that belongs to them.

[33:16]  ³ sn See W. Brueggemann, “The Crisis and Promise of Presence in Israel,” HBT 1 (1979): 47-86; and N. M. Waldman, “God’s Ways – A Comparative Note,” JQR 70 (1979): 67-70.