John Gill Commentary Exodus 33:16

"For wherein now shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people? is it not in that thou goest with us, so that we are separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?" — Exodus 33:16 (ASV)

For in which shall it be known here
At Sinai, among the mountains in the wilderness:

that I and your people have found grace in your sight :
were acceptable to him, highly esteemed by him, and had received peculiar favours from him; what evidence would there be of this? how would it appear to others? what knowledge could they have of it?

[is it] not in that you go with us ?
in such a grand majestic manner, and so visible as in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.

This is a full proof, and a strong and convincing argument, even to a demonstration, that they were a special and peculiar people, the favourites of God, highly esteemed and honoured by him; but should this be discontinued, as seemed to be threatened, there would be nothing to demonstrate that they had found more grace and favour than other people; but this being the case,

so shall we be separated, I and your people, from all the people
[that are] upon the face of the earth ;
distinguished by this favour from them, and that in a very wonderful and marvellous manner, as the word signifies; and so some render it, "marvellously separated" ^F1 ; for the pillar of cloud and fire was a very marvellous thing, and distinguished the people of Israel from all others in a surprising manner, none having been ever favoured in the like manner.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F1: (wnylpn) "marvellously separated", Ainsworth.