_THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MAKE A GOLDEN CALF, WHICH THEY WORSHIP: MOSES BREAKS THE TABLES WRITTEN BY THE FINGER OF GOD: HE DESTROYS THE CALF, AND SENDS THE SONS OF LEVI INTO THE CAMP, WHO KILL THREE THOUSAND OF THE IDOLATERS: MOSES RETURNS INTO THE MOUNT, AND INTERCEDES WITH GOD IN BEHALF OF THE PEOPL... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW THAT MOSES— The long delay of Moses in the mount led this ever-murmuring and incredulous generation to think that he had utterly forsaken them; that an attempt to go forward into Canaan would, therefore, be absurd; and that it would be better to follow their groveling inclina... [ Continue Reading ]
EAR-RINGS—OF YOUR SONS— It is well known that, in the Eastern countries, the men wore these kinds of ornaments as well as the women. See Judges 8:24. They were, probably, part of the spoils which they had brought from Egypt, and which they now shamefully employ to the dishonour of their God. It does... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE RECEIVED THEM, &C.— _And he received it at their hand, and tied it in a bag:_ (Bochart.) Or, _cast it into a mould, and made of it a molten calf._ See 2 Kings 5:23. Judges 8:24. Either of the translations given above may be very well justified, and wholly remove the objection which some have... [ Continue Reading ]
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 room for it, when we are informed, that the Almighty was so indignant at him for it, that he would hav... [ Continue Reading ]
SAT DOWN TO EAT AND TO DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY— That is, as St. Paul explains it, 1 Corinthians 10:7 they committed idolatry; performing all those ceremonies, feasting, dancing, (Exodus 32:19.) and sporting lasciviously, which were usual in the worship of idols. REFLECTIONS.—Aaron, instead of sh... [ Continue Reading ]
THY PEOPLE, WHICH THOU BROUGHTEST— That is, as being my representative; as being a _god_ unto them: see ch. Exodus 4:16 Exodus 7:1 Exodus 18:19. Moses is called, Acts 7:35 _a deliverer._ God, as it were, now disclaims this people, who had disclaimed him; he calls them _thy people_ in this address to... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS A STIFF-NECKED PEOPLE— An appellation frequently given to the Jews; who, like untamed and unruly oxen, would not bend and submit their _necks_ to the yoke. _Thy neck is an iron sinew,_ says the Lord by Isaiah, ch. Isaiah 48:4 alluding to the same idea. Compare Jeremiah 5:5.Hosea 4:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE LET ME ALONE— One would be apt to conclude from the manner of speaking here, that the Almighty meant this as a trial of the benevolence and piety of Moses; proposing to him the total destruction of this perverse generation, and the transferring to his single family all the blessings of... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES BESOUGHT THE LORD—AND SAID— This intercession of Moses for the people, reminds us of that of Abraham for the devoted Sodomites, Genesis 18. The reason why God's wrath waxed hot against his people is very evident; and therefore our translation, _why doth thy wrath wax hot?_ would be improved by... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD REPENTED OF THE EVIL— That is, to give weight to the intercession of Moses, he did that which _men_ do, who are influenced by proper arguments, _he altered his sentiments._ The Almighty can neither change nor repent: such expressions are always to be understood, as they are always spoken, _... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THEM THAT SING— The Hebrew word ענות _anoth,_ signifies _singing alternately,_ or by antiphons, as was the custom both in sacred and prophane worship. _Note;_ How often does the sinner in fatal security thus sing and dance on the brink of the grave, though all God's fiery law is armed against hi... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CAST THE TABLES OUT OF HIS HANDS, AND BRAKE THEM— Moved with just indignation at this notorious breach of that covenant which the people had so lately made with God, Moses broke these sacred tables which contained the chief articles of the covenant, as a symbolical representation of what the peop... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TOOK THE CALF—AND BURNT IT, &C.— This perhaps might be rendered more properly _he melted it down, and afterwards reduced it to powder._ It is not probable that this calf was of any considerable size; the materials whereof it was made, as well as its speedy reduction to powder, whether by the file... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY ARE SET ON MISCHIEF— In the original, this is only, _that they in mischief._ Houbigant renders it, _thou knowest, effrenatam mentem, the unbridled disposition of this people:_ but this does not seem to come up to the force of the original, which expresses the total depravation and wickedne... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MOSES SAW, &C.— Some expositors understand by this passage, not only their being divested of their virtue and piety, which was their ornament and defence, but also their being unarmed, dispersed up and down the plain at their sports; nay, and even guilty of acts of abominable conduct in the mid... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?— See 2 Kings 9:32. The Chaldee renders this, _who feareth the Lord, let him come to me:_ that is, whosoever abhorreth this idolatry, and is zealous for the honour of _Jehovah:_ accordingly, _all the sons of Levi_ joined themselves to him; an expression, which, as appears f... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MOSES HAD SAID, CONSECRATE YOURSELVES— Heb. _Fill your hands:_ see the note on ch. Exodus 29:9. The reading of the margin of our Bibles, (_And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to-day to the Lord, because every man_ hath been _against his sin, and against his brother,_) as it is nearest to the H... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES RETURNED UNTO THE LORD, AND SAID— See Deuteronomy 9:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF NOT, BLOT ME, I PRAY THEE, OUT OF THY BOOK— In Numbers 11:15. Moses makes use of an expression plainer than this, but both, no doubt, of the same import: _If thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand._ It can not be imagined that Moses desired to be blotted out of the book of eter... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER HATH SINNED AGAINST ME, HIM WILL I BLOT OUT— i.e. I will not suffer them to live, to enjoy the temporal benefits and privileges of my covenant; and the sequel will shew us how this was verified. Impatient of Moses's delay for forty days in the mount, they were condemned to wander forty yea... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAD THE PEOPLE UNTO THE PLACE, &C.— For an exposition of this verse, we refer to the 1st verse of the next chapter. _Nevertheless, in the day when I visit,_ &c. seems to refer to some future and great visitation, when this sin of their fathers should be remembered upon Israel. See Amos 5:25.Acts 7:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD PLAGUED THE PEOPLE— It might be rendered, _thus the Lord punished the people, because they had made the calf which Aaron made;_ a mode of expression, which involves them and Aaron in equal guilt; and shews, that they who command an evil thing to be done, are equally criminal with the do... [ Continue Reading ]