Moses was the greatest of all the prophets.  A prophet is a person to whom YHVH communicates His word, and he or she conveys the message to the people.  It may be verbal, like Isaiah, or a series of miracles, as with Elijah.  The prophesies given to Moses were greater than those of the other prophets because they directly affected all Israel, in contrast to Elijah and Elisha and others, whose prophecies were given to individuals or groups of people only.  Revelations through Moses were higher than those through the prophets - the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai being the greatest of all revelations in the Israel's experience.

The Torah says that YHVH knew Moses face to face, and Moses knew YHVH face to face.  Such was Moses' familiarity with YHVH that he could speak with Him whenever he wished.

How could Moses be so close to YHVH that he could know Him face to face?  Didn't YHVH explicitly said to Moses "You cannot see My face, for no man may see me and live."  Ex 33:20   ('You cannot see My face' - YHVH's face being His vast eternal plan and where everyone fits into it.)

There seems to be a contradiction between the two verses.  On one hand YHVH states, 'No man may see Me and live', and on the other, Moses is described as having 'known YHVH face to face.'

Is it possible to know YHVH?

YHVH transcends all human comprehension of time and space.  Even the quality of oneness that we attribute to Him is essentially beyond our comprehension and is different than the quality of oneness that we can understand.  YHVH exists, but is basically 'unknowable'.

The mystery of YHVH remains forever sealed to Man  All we have is an awareness of the mystery, but it is a presence that the mind can never penetrate.  Thus an infinite abyss separates the human experience from the holy, crossed only through revelation and prophecy.

Moses was accessible to YHVH in that only he could say to an inquiring assembly of people "Stand and I will hear what YHVH will command you."  Num 9:8 

No other prophet had the instant 'hot line' to YHVH - he or she had to wait until the word of YHVH came to them.