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The Mount of Olives in YEHOVAH God’s Plan 11

When YEHOVAH God Became Angry

When Moses became angry with the Israelites over the Golden Calf incident, he took his
own tent (to which the people had come to receive instructions from Moses) and moved it “outside
the camp” in order to remove himself from the rebellious camp of Israel -- see Exodus 33:7. Unfor-
tunately, this verse in the King James Version says that Moses took “the tabernacle and pitched it
without the camp,” when in fact this was NOT the later Tabernacle called the “Tent of Appoint-
ment” -- which was only set up in the first month of the second year of the Exodus (Exodus 40). This
particular “Tent of Appointment” -- or sometimes translated as “Tabernacle of the Congregation”
or the “Tent of Meeting” -- was simply Moses’ own headquarters tent which he temporarily set up
“outside the camp” of Israel when he and YEHOVAH God became angry with the conduct of the
Israelites. Later, Moses moved this tent (his own tent) back into the camp after he came down from
Mount Sinai with the Law the second time. Moses then had the new Tabernacle built which became
known as “God’s House,” and he made it the new “Tent of Meeting” on the first day of Nisan (the
first month) in the second year of the Exodus.

Now there is something we should understand regarding the place for the temporary “Tent
of Appointment” -- Moses set it up “outside the camp.” Even though the King James Version of the
Bible shows that it was set up “afar off” from the camp, all Jewish commentators know that it was
positioned just 2,000 cubits from the central part of the camp.

When all of Israel observed Moses approaching the entrance to this temporary “Tent of Ap-
pointment” located “outside the camp,” they also saw the Shekinah Glory of YEHOVAH God --
like a pillar of fire at night and a bright cloud in the day -- hover over that entrance to this “Tent of
Appointment” (Exodus 33:9-10). Now realize this important point: When YEHOVAH God got an-
gry with Israel this first time, He had Moses, Joshua and the “Tent of Appointment” leave the camp
of Israel and place themselves on the EAST side of the camp in full view of all the Israelites who re-
mained in the camp. In fact, before the official “Tent of Appointment” (which later became the Ta-
bernacle -- called the Temple or House of YEHOVAH God) was set up, YEHOVAH God already
set up the “Temple” or “House of God” EAST of Israel and “outside the camp.” This was the first
sign to the Israelites that when YEHOVAH God became angry with them, He would withdraw from
the camp and position His headquarters “outside the camp” on its EAST side.

When YEHOVAH became angry in the time of Ezekiel, He had His Shekinah Glory with-
draw from the Temple and the camp of Israel and position itself just “outside the camp” on the
Mount of Olives -- see Ezekiel 11:22-23. And then, when YEHOVAH became angry with Israel in
66 A.D., He also had His Shekinah Glory retreat to the summit of the Mount of Olives just to the
east of Jerusalem and just “outside the camp,” in order to show his displeasure at what the Israelites
were doing at the time. This was witnesses by one Rabbi Jonathan, as recorded in Midrash Rabba
Lamentations (Soncino Edition, p.51), and also recorded by the first Christian historian Eusebius
in his Proof of the Gospel (VI, xviii.288).

Notes Ernest Martin –

The symbolism in these matters is unmistakable. When God is angry with Israel for their
ways, he pulls up stakes and leaves their camp. But he does not go too far away. He sets up

The Berean Voice March-April 2003