7. Moses used to pitch a tent outside the camp at some distance. It was called the tent of meeting. Anyone who wished to consult the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.
8. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, the people would all rise and stand at the entrance of their own tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.
9. As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down and stand at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses.
10. On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise and bow down at the entrance of their own tents.
11. The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a person speaks to a friend. Moses would then return to the camp, but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, never left the tent.
12. Moses said to the Lord, “See, you are telling me: Lead this people. But you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said: You are my intimate friend; You have found favor with me.
13. Now, if I have found favor with you, please let me know your ways so that, in knowing you, I may continue to find favor with you. See, this nation is indeed your own people.
14. The Lord answered: I myself will go along, to give you rest.
15. Moses replied, “If you are not going yourself, do not make us go up from here.