Exodus 34:9 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And he said, I pray thee go among us Thus Moses prays for the things God had already promised, not as doubting the sincerity of God's grants, but as one solicitous for the ratification of them. But it is a strange plea he urges; for it is a stiff-necked people God had given this as a reason why he would not go along with them, Exodus 33:3. Yea, saith Moses, the rather go along with us; for the worse they are, the more need they have of thy presence. Moses sees them so stiff-necked, that he has neither patience nor power enough to deal with them; therefore, Lord, do thou go among us; else they will never be kept in awe; thou wilt spare, and bear with them, for thou art God and not man.