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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary

Exodus 32:5

When Aaron saw, i.e. observed with what applause they received it, and with what fury and resolution they prosecuted their former desire, he was borne down with the stream, and, as it is probable, by the people's instigation, built an altar to it. To the Lord, Heb. to Jehovah; which title being peculiar to the true God, and being here given by Aaron to the calf, with the approbation of the people, makes it more than probable that the people designed to worship the true God in this calf, which they made only as a visible token of God's presence with them, and an image by which they might convey their worship to God.

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See also Exodus 32:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Exodus 32:5. _TO-MORROW_ IS _A FEAST TO THE LORD_] In Bengal the officiating _Brahmin_, or an appointed person proclaims, "To-morrow, or on -- day of -- , such a ceremony will be performed!...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    In all probability these three chapters originally formed a distinct composition. The main incidents recorded in them follow in the order of time, and are therefore in their proper place as regards hi...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    4. ISRAEL ‘S SIN AND REBELLION CHAPTER 32 _ 1. The people in rebellion (Exodus 32:1)_ 2. Jehovah threatens his wrath (Exodus 32:7) 3. Moses beseeches Jehovah (Exodus 32:11) 4. Moses descends and

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXODUS 32:1 E, EXODUS 32:7 Rje, EXODUS 32:15 E, EXODUS 32:25 J,...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    A FEAST TO THE LORD. All done under cover of "religion". THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Seeing the impression which the image made upon Israel, Aaron at once builds an altar before it, and proclaims a feast to Jehovah. The calf is thus clearly regarded, not as exclusive of Jehovah, but a...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHEN AARON SAW IT, &C.— Whatever may be urged in behalf of Aaron, there can be no doubt that his conduct was extremely blameable: nor have we any need to attempt his vindication, as there can be no ro...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 32 And when the people saw that Mo-ses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aar-on, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, whi...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND WHEN AARON SAW IT, HE BUILT AN ALTAR BEFORE IT; AND AARON MADE PROCLAMATION, AND SAID, TO MORROW IS A FEAST TO THE LORD._ Aaron ... built an altar before it - `like that which still exists befor...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE IDOLATRY OF THE PEOPLE 1-6. The historical narrative is here resumed from Exodus 24:18. Becoming impatient at the prolonged absence of Moses on the mount (forty days, Exodus 24:18), and despairing...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A FEAST TO THE LORD] i.e. to Jehovah. See on Exodus 32:1. Feasting was a common accompaniment of sacrifice; see on Exodus 24:9. On the nature of the play in this case see Exodus 32:18;...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: *ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO MOSES EXODUS CHAPTER S 19 TO 40 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 32 THE YOUNG *BULL THAT THE *ISRAELITES *WORSHIPPED – VERSES 1-35 A...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AARON... BUILT AN ALTAR BEFORE IT. — Having once yielded to the popular cry. Aaron was carried on from one compliance to another. He caused the mould to be made for the idol, and the gold to be melted...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יַּ֣רְא אַהֲרֹ֔ן וַ יִּ֥בֶן מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXXII. _ THE GOLDEN CALF._ Exodus 32:1 While God was thus providing for Israel, what had Israel done with God? They had grown weary of waiting: had despaired of and slighted their heroic lea...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    AARON'S GOLDEN CALF OFFENDS THE LORD Exodus 32:1 The people never thought of taking Aaron as a substitute for Moses, because they instinctively recognized his moral weakness. Though he was dressed i...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Immediately following the account of this period of communion between Moses and God we have the record of the sin of the people. When they said, "Up, make us Gods," they were seeking something to repr...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    The Lord. The most sacred name of God is prostituted, (Judges xvii. and xviii.; Wisdom xiv. 21,) and an altar is erected to this idol; though some pretend, that Aaron meant God to be adored under this...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Compare this account with what is said, Exodus 24:7. then read that scripture, which can never be too often read, Jeremiah 17:9. Observe how the Psalmist remarks this sin, being so highly aggravated,...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai." Up to this point all the dealings of God have been the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    5._And, when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it_. When he sees the people so infuriated, that he despairs of being able to resist their conspiracy, in perfidious cowardice he gives way to compl...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Whilst God was thus preparing the precious things connected with His relationship with His people [1], the people, only thinking of what they saw in the human instrument of their deliverance, complete...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WHEN AARON SAW IT,.... In what form it was, and what a figure it made, and how acceptable it was to the Israelites. The Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it, "and Aaron saw Hur slain b...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And when Aaron saw [it], he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow [is] a feast to the LORD. Ver. 5. _A feast to Jehovah._] Whom these idolators pretended to worsh...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Aaron built an altar_ Being borne down with the stream; _and proclaimed a feast_ Namely, of dedication; yet he calls it _a feast to Jehovah_ By which it is still more evident that the people did not...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The people in the absence of Moses, cause Aaron to make a calfe. 7 God is angred thereby. 11 At the intreatie of Moses he is appeased. 15 Moses commeth downe with the Tables. 19 He breaketh them...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE GOLDEN CALF...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord. The name of Jehovah was introduced to cover up the evil, the implication bein...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    THIRD DIVISION The legislation as modified by the lapse of the people, and the intensified distinction between Jehovah and Israel as expressed in the more hierarchical constitution of the theocracy...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE GOLDEN CALF (vs.1-6) Moses forty days in the mount (the number of testing) was too much for the impatient children of Israel. They gathered to Aaron in united determination to have some substitut...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 While Moses was in the mount, receiving the law from God, the people made a tumultuous address to Aaron. This giddy multitude were weary of waiting for the return of Moses. Weariness in waiting b...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    We have now to contemplate something very different from that Which has hitherto engaged our attention. " The pattern of things in the heavens," has been before us Christ in His glorious Person, graci...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 32:5 Aaron H175 saw H7200 (H8799) built H1129 (H8799) altar H4196 before H6440 Aaron H175 proclamation...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PEOPLE'S REBELLION AND THE MOLTEN CALF (EXODUS 32:1). While Moses was in the Mount for forty days and forty nights receiving his instructions from Yahweh, the people waiting in the plain below bec...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Exodus 32:1. _And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before u...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The broken law; Israel worships a golden calf. Intercession of Moses. CHARACTERS: God, Moses, Aaron, Joshua. CONCLUSION: It is a great sin to make gold, or anything else, a god, as those d...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 32:1. _Unto Aaron._ Some copies read, the people gathered themselves together _against_ Aaron. He sinned through fear of man; but as the Lord did not punish him with the revolters, the latter w...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Up, make us gods._ IDOLATRY I. The very essence of idolatry is not spiritual ignorance and obtuseness, but a wilful turning away from the spiritual knowledge and worship of God. 1. This act of ido...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS 32:1 Covenant Breach, Intercession, and Renewal. This section illustrates Israel’s need for sanctification from the Lord. ⇐ ⇔

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 32:1. Zeh Mosheh häish = this Moses _the man_]. The Israelites, thinking that “the man” who brought them out of the land of Egypt had acted the part of a truant, and that they...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE IDOLATRY OF THE GOLDEN CALF. During the absence of Moses in Mount Sinai, an absence of nearly six weeks, the Israelites grew impatient, and regarding their leader as lost to them, and t...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when the people saw that Moses had delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered to Aaron, and they said unto him, Get up, and make us gods, that shall go before us; for as for Moses, we do...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Aaron 1 Samuel 14:35 2 Kings 16:11 Hosea 8:11 Hosea 8:14 made proclamation...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And Aaron built an altar before it, and proclaimed a feast — A feast of dedication; yet he calls it a feast to Jehovah; for, as brutish as they were, they did not design to terminate their adoration i...

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