And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
5. And the Lord descended in the cloud It is by no means to be doubted but that the cloud received Moses into it in the sight of the people, so that, after having been separated from the common life of men for forty days, he should again come forth like a new man. Thus did this visible demonstration of God’s glory avail to awaken faith in the commandments.
God descended in the cloud to strike awe upon Moses, lest familiarity breed contempt. He proclaimed His name in passing, for in this life we get only transient views of Him; the permanence is reserved for heaven. Now He makes Himself known in grace and goodness, not self-existence alone.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 34:5-9
And the Lord descended in the cloud,.... The same with the cloudy pillar, which was now gone up from the door of the tabernacle, and was on high in the air over the mount, and on which the Lord now descended in it, as he had before, Exo 19:9, and stood with him there; not Moses stood with the Lord, as the Vulgate Latin version...