Why did Moses put a veil over his face when he came down from the mountain?
Moses put a veil over his face not because Israel could not stand the brightness of his complexion, but because they could not see the end of the whole system of Law. That Law system was abolished, and Israel remained blinded to its passing from the scene.
Les explains that verse 13 contrasts the new setup with Moses: “not as Moses.” When Moses put the veil over his face, the issue was not that Israel could not endure the brightness of his complexion. Rather, the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. Les says they could not see the end of the whole system of Law, and they still cannot to this day. They are blinded to the fact that the whole system of Law has passed off the scene, is abolished, and in its place is the tremendous revelation of the mysteries, the grace of God.
And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
What was the purpose of the veil on Moses' face?
The veil on Moses' face was to keep Israel from seeing that the Law was fading away and that something better had now come in its place. It kept them from seeing that the Law had come to an end, preventing them from perceiving the better thing that replaced it.
Why did Moses put a veil over his face — was it because Israel couldn't stand the brightness?
The veil was not due to Israel being unable to endure the brightness of Moses’ face. Rather, it signified that they could not see the end of the whole system of Law, which was being abolished. They remain blinded to the Law’s passing and God’s revelation of grace.