The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
NMVAnd the people stood afar off, and Moshe [He Who Draws Out Of The Waters] drew near unto the thick darkness where God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] [was].
OJBMizbe'ach adamah thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy olot, and thy shelamim, thy tzon, and thine oxen; in all places where I cause My Shem to be remembered, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
T4TThen, as the people watched from a distance, Moses/I went close to the black cloud where God was.