Exodus 32:1

CHAPTER XXXII

The Israelites, finding that Moses delayed his return, desire

Aaron to make them gods to go before them, 1.

Aaron consents, and requires their ornaments, 2.

They deliver them to him, and he makes a molten calf, 3, 4.

He builds an altar before it, 5;

and the people offer burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, 6.

The Lord commands Moses to go down, telling him that the people

had corrupted themselves, 7, 8.

The Lord is angry, and threatens to destroy them, 9, 10.

Moses intercedes for them, 11-13;

and the Lord promises to spare them, 14.

Moses goes down with the tables in his hands, 15, 16.

Joshua, hearing the noise they made at their festival, makes

some remarks on it, 17, 18.

Moses, coming to the camp, and seeing their idolatrous worship,

is greatly distressed, throws down and breaks the two tables, 19.

Takes the calf, reduces it to powder, strews it upon the water,

and causes them to drink it, 20.

Moses expostulates with Aaron, 21.

Aaron vindicates himself, 22-24.

Moses orders the Levites to slay the transgressors, 25-27.

They do so, and 3000 fall, 28, 29.

Moses returns to the Lord on the mount, and makes supplication

for the people, 30-32.

God threatens and yet spares, 33.

Commands Moses to lead the people, and promises him the direction

of an angel, 34.

The people are plagued because of their sin, 35.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXII

Verse Exodus 32:1. When the people saw that Moses delayed] How long this was before the expiration of the forty days, we cannot tell; but it certainly must have been some considerable time, as the ornaments must be collected, and the calf or ox, after having been founded, must require a considerable time to fashion it with the graving tool; and certainly not more than two or three persons could work on it at once. This work therefore, must have required several days.

The people gathered themselves together] They came in a tumultuous and seditious manner, insisting on having an object of religious worship made for them, as they intended under its direction to return to Egypt. See Acts 7:39.

As for this Moses, the man that brought us up] This seems to be the language of great contempt, and by it we may see tho truth of the character given them by Aaron, Exodus 32:22, they were set on mischief. It is likely they might have supposed that Moses had perished in the fire, which they saw had invested the top of the mountain into which he went.