And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
I will put thee in a clift of the rock - namely, on Sinai, whither Moses was again called up (Exodus 34:2). In the chapel on Jebel M-sa dedicated to Elijah, the monks show a niche or hole, just large enough for a man's body, where they say Moses stood on this occasion, and in which Elijah dwelt long after. But there is, no certainty in their traditions (see Robinson's 'Biblical Researches,' vol. 1:, p. 152; Lepsius' 'Letters,' p. 559; Hengstenberg's 'Pentateuch,' vol. 2:, p. 129).
And will cover thee with my hand while I pass by. This would be necessary to protect Moses from the consequences of his own gratified desire, lest, had his eyes seen Yahweh passing by, he should have been overwhelmed with astonishment, and perished in the blaze of God's glory.