And he said unto him,.... Moses said unto the Lord:if thy presence go not [with me]; or with us, as it may be as well supplied, and which agrees with what follows:carry us not up hence; from the mount to the land of Canaan; though God had promised his presence, which was the thing requested, Moses could not forbear expressing himself after this manner, to show the high esteem he had of this blessing, and how worthless and insignificant everything else was without it; that even Canaan, the land of rest promised, was nothing in comparison of it: it is not much matter where we are, or what we have, if God is not with us; but if he grants his presence, the greatest hardships in a wilderness are made easy, and difficulties are got through with pleasure; though some read the words in the preceding verse by way of interrogation, "should my face" or "presence go", and "should it give thee rest" ?
as carrying in it a kind of denial, which makes Moses here more urgent for it, and such a version those words seem to require. "An facies mea iret et quietem daret tibi?" Noldius, p. 243.