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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 32:7-14

Here, I. God acquaints Moses with what was doing in the camp while he was absent, Exod. 32:7, 8. He could have told him sooner, as soon as the first step was taken towards it, and have hastened him down to prevent it; but he suffered it to come to this height, for wise and holy ends, and then sent him down to punish it. Note, It is no reproach to the holiness of God that he suffers sin to be committed, since he knows, not only how to restrain it when he pleases, but how to make it serviceable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:11

And Moses besought the Lord his God ,.... As the Lord was the God of Moses, his covenant God, and he had an interest in him, he made use of it in favour of the people of Israel: and said, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people ? so as to think or speak of consuming them utterly; otherwise he knew there was reason for his being angry and wroth with them; but though they were deserving of his hot wrath and displeasure, and even to be dealt with in the manner proposed, yet he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:12

Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say ,.... Those that remained, as the Targum of Jonathan, who were not drowned in the Red sea: a good man will be concerned for the honour and glory of God among the enemies of his people, that their mouths may not be opened to blaspheme the Lord and speak ill of his ways, see Joshua 7:9 and this is sometimes an argument with God himself, not to do that to his people they deserve, lest it should give occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:13

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants ,.... The covenant he made with them, the promise he had made unto them, with an oath annexed to it: to whom thou swarest by thine own self ; which he did, because he could swear by no greater; and for the confirmation of his covenant and promise, see Genesis 22:16 . and saidst unto them ; for what was said to Abraham was repeated and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven ; multitudes of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:11

Verse 11 11.And Moses besought the Lord his God It is clear that this prayer sprang from faith, though in it he seems to fight against the very word of God; for God had said, Get thee down to thy people; but his answer is, Nay, it is thine. But, as I have lately stated, inasmuch as he firmly grasped the principle, that it was impossible for God’s covenant to be made ineffective, he breaks through or surmounts all obstacles with closed eyes as it were. He proves them to be God’s people by the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:13

Verse 13 13.Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants He does not bring thern forward as patrons, by the assistance of whose voice he might obtain what He seeks; but because the promise was lodged with them, which they transmitted as an inheritance to their descendants. We must observe, then, the quality or character with which God had invested the Patriarchs. For which reason it is said in Psalms 132:1, “Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions.” And hence the ignorance and folly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 has altogether been well known to him ( Psalms 139:4 ). It is God's way, however, to permit matters to reach a crisis before he interposes. For a time he keeps silence. During the inception and early stages of the movement in Israel, he makes no discovery of it to Moses. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 all-observant eye is equally on the doings of the people below. And now, just when Moses is expecting to be dismissed with his instructions for the people, he is fated to learn that they have proved themselves utterly unworthy of Jehovah's great designs. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 is swept away, and will misapprehend the Divine action. 3 . The promises made to Abraham ( Genesis 15:5 ; Genesis 17:2-6 ; etc.), IsaActs ( Genesis 26:4 ), and Jacob ( Genesis 28:14 ; Genesis 35:11 ), which had received a partial fulfilment, would seem to... read more

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