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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:7-14
The wrath of Jehovah and the intercession of Moses. I. JEHOVAH DESCRIBES TO MOSES THE APOSTASY OF ISRAEL. Jehovah is omniscient; even while spreading before Moses, with all elaboration, the patterns in the mount, his al…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:7-11
The first intercessions. If Israel has been forgetting God, God has not been forgetting Israel. His eye has been on all their doings. There has not been a thought in their heart, or a word on their tongue, but, lo! it h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:8
They have turned aside quickly. A few weeks have sufficed to make them forget their solemn pledges (Exodus 19:8; Exodus 24:3), and fly in the face of a plain unmistakable commandment. A molten calf. In the contemptuous…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:9
A stiffnecked people. This epithet, which becomes epitheton usitatum, is here used for the first time. It does not so much mean "obstinate" as "perverse" like a horse that stiffens the neck when the driver pulls the rig…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:10
Now, therefore, let me alone. This was not a command, but rather a suggestion; or, at any rate, it was a command not intended to compel obedience—like that of the angel to Jacob—"Let me go, for the day breaketh" (Genesi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:11-15
The intercession of Moses. This intercession should be studied and laid to heart by all Christians, especially by Christian ministers, whose duty it is to "watch for the souls" of others, as "they that must give account…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:11-13
Moses has three pleas wherewith he "wrestles with God:"— 1. Israel is God's people, for whom he has done so much that surely he will not now destroy them, and so undo his own work. 2. Egypt will be triumphant if Israel…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:14
The Lord repented of the evil. Changes of purpose are, of course, attributed to God by an "economy," or accommodation of the truth to human modes of speech and conception. "God is not a man that he should repent." He "k…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:14
Some powers restrain, some compel. Here we see a restraining power, and one which can even restrain God. Notice— I. EVIL THREATENED. 1. Justly merited. Remember all that had gone before: deliverance after a series of aw…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:15-25
The return of Moses to the camp. It may well be believed that it was with deeply agitated heart that Moses, stunned by the tidings he had just received, rejoined his faithful attendant, and as speedily as possible desce…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:15-19
EXPOSITION MOSES BREAKS THE TWO TABLES. The entire conference between God and Moses being now ended, Moses hastened to descend from the mount, and interpose in the crisis that had arisen, he took carefully the two table…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:15
The two tables … were in his hand. In Deuteronomy 9:15, using greater particularity, Moses says that they were "in his two hands." One was in each hand probably. Written on both their sides. This is the case generally w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:15-19
The act of Moses in breaking the tables. At first sight the act seems impious, and wholly inexcusable. Here was a marvel—the greatest marvel existing in all the world—transcending the finest statue, the most glorious pi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:15-35
Judgment and mercy. I. THE DESCENT or MOSES THE EMBLEM OF THE LAW'S ENTRANCE INTO A WORLD OF SIN (Exodus 32:15-29). 1. He came with tables written by God's own finger. The Divine origin and claims of the law are still a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:16
The tables were the work of God. Shaped, i.e; by the same power by which the commandments were inscribed upon them; not, necessarily, of matter newly created for the purpose.
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:17
When Joshua heard. This abrupt introduction of Joshua, who has not been mentioned for seven entire chapters, is curious. Probably he had considered himself bound, as Moses' minister (Exodus 24:13), to await his return,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:18
This verse is difficult to translate, being markedly antithetical and at the same time idiomatic. Perhaps it would be best to render—"It is not the voice of them who raise the cry of victory, nor is it the voice of them…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:19
The dancing. Rather "dancing." There is no article; and as the subject had not been mentioned before, the use of the article would have been unmeaning. Dances were a part of the religious ceremonial in most ancient nati…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:20
Burnt it and ground it to powder. Silver and gold subjected for a short time to a white heat, which may be easily produced by bellows, readily calcine, and are then easily crushed to a fine powder. Silver becomes detona…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:20
Idolatry condemned by the idol's weakness and nothingness. An idol is "nothing in the world" (1 Corinthians 8:4)—has no power—cannot even save itself. Nothing convinces men of the vanity of idolatry so much as to see th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:20
EXPOSITION MOSES DESTROYS THE GOLDEN CALF. The first vengeance which Moses took was upon the idol. It was probably hollow, and possibly of no great size. He might easily break it to pieces and subject the pieces to the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:21-24
EXPOSITION AARON TRIES TO EXCUSE HIMSELF. Having taken the needful steps for the destruction of the idol, Moses naturally turned upon Aaron. He had been left in charge of the people, to guide them, instruct them, counse…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:21
What did this people unto thee? Moses does not suppose that the people had really done anything to Aaron. He asks the question as a reproach—they had done nothing to thee—had in no way injured thee—and yet thou broughte…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 32:22
Let not the anger of my lord wax hot. Aaron's humility is extreme, and the result of a consciousness of guilt. He nowhere else addresses Moses as "my lord." Set on mischief. Or "inclined to evil" (Kalisch).