King James Bible
"And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle."
This describes the unique intimacy of Moses' relationship with God, contrasting with the distant, fearful encounters Israel typically experienced at Sinai. The phrase emphasizes direct, personal communication without intermediaries, marking Moses as uniquely privileged among all prophets. Moses returns from the tent of meeting to his leadership duties among the people, serving as mediator between God's presence and Israel. This movement pattern shows Moses' dual role: experiencing divine intimacy while remaining grounded in earthly responsibilities. Joshua's continuous presence in the sacred space reveals his deep hunger for God's presence and his preparation for future leadership. This detail foreshadows his eventual succession of Moses and highlights the formative nature of lingering in God's presence.