Exodus 32:12

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 32:12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 32:7-14

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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." It was— I. EARNEST AND IMPASSIONED . No feeble voice, no lukewarm, timid utterance, was heard in the words whereby the leader sought to save his people. Prayer, expostulation, almost reproach, sound in them. God is besought, urged, importuned, to grant the boon... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 32:7-35

The faithfulness of Moses in the office that had been entrusted to him was now to be put to the test. It was to be made manifest whether he loved his own glory better than he loved the brethren who were under his charge; whether he would prefer that he should himself become the founder of a “great nation,” or that the Lord’s promise should be fulfilled in the whole people of Israel. This may have been especially needful for Moses, in consequence of his natural disposition. See Numbers 12:3; and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 32:12-13

Exodus 32:12-13. Turn from thy fierce wrath Not as if he thought God were not justly angry, but he begs that he would not be so greatly angry as to consume them. Let mercy rejoice against judgment; repent of this evil Change the sentence of destruction into that of correction; against thy people Which thou broughtest up out of Egypt, for whom thou hast done so great things. Wherefore should the Egyptians say, For mischief did he bring them out Israel is dear to Moses, as his kindred,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:1-35

32:1-34:35 COVENANT BROKEN AND RENEWEDThe golden bull (32:1-35)Although they were God’s people and had been delivered by his mighty power from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites were still very much Egyptian in their feelings, thinking and habits. They made an animal idol as a visible symbol of their unseen God, then developed a ritual to go with it, complete with priest, altar, sacrifices and feasting. And, as often happened with the pagan religions, drunkenness and immoral sex-play accompanied... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 32:12

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ). mischief , or wrong-doing. Hebrew. r'a'a. App-44 . repent. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ). evil. Hebrew. r'a'a. App-44 . read more

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