Moses Refuses to Leave the Tent and the Orphan in the Palace

(Exodus 33:8:) "And it came to pass, when Moses went out to the Tent" — they would stand at the sides and honor him, saying: Blessed is she who bore Moses. What does he see in him? (Exodus 33:9:) "And it came to pass, when Moses entered the Tent, the pillar of cloud would descend" — they knew that the Shekhinah was being revealed to Moses. (Exodus 33:10:) "And all the people rose." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses, return to the camp. He said to Him: I will not return. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Know that Joshua is in the Tabernacle. To what is the matter comparable? To a matron who became angry with the king and went out from the palace, and she had been raising a certain orphan girl in the palace. The king sent after the matron and said to her: Return to the palace; but she did not seek to return. He said to her: I am telling you to return, but you do not wish to. Know that the orphan girl is placed in the palace. So (Exodus 33:11:) "And the LORD spoke to Moses face to face." What did He speak? Return to the camp. But he did not seek to return. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: I am telling you to return, but you do not seek to. By your life, Joshua is in the Tent of Meeting. Moses said to Him: Master of the Universe, was it not for Your sake that I was angry with them? See, You say to me (Exodus 33:12:) "Bring up this people." See, You cannot leave them. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: I have already told you, and I have sent an angel before you. Moses said: To an angel You deliver me? (Exodus 33:15:) "If Your Presence does not go, do not bring us up from here." (Exodus 33:13:) "And now, if I have found favor in Your eyes…"