Exodus 32:16-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 32:15-20

Here is, I. The favour of God to Moses, in trusting him with the two tables of the testimony, which, though of common stone, were far more valuable than all the precious stones that adorned the breast-plate of Aaron. The topaz of Ethiopia could not equal them, Exod. 32:15, 16. God himself, without the ministry either of man or angel (for aught that appears), wrote the ten commandments on these tables, on both their sides, some on one table and some on the other, so that they were folded... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 32:21-29

Moses, having shown his just indignation against the sin of Israel by breaking the tables and burning the calf, now proceeds to reckon with the sinners and to call them to an account, herein acting as the representative of God, who is not only a holy God, and hates sin, but a just God, and is engaged in honour to punish it, Isa. 59:18. Now, I. He begins with Aaron, as God began with Adam, because he was the principal person, though not first in the transgression, but drawn into it. Observe... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:16

And the tables were the work of God ,.... And not of angels or men; the stones were made and formed by God into the shape they were: and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables ; the letters in which the law was written were of his framing, devising, and engraving; and this was to show that this law was his own, and contained his mind and will; and to give the greater dignity and authority to it, and to deter men from breaking it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:17

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people, as they shouted ,.... Dancing about the calf: when Moses went up into the mount, Joshua went with him, and tarried in a lower part of the mount all the forty days until he returned, see Exodus 24:13 though not so low as the bottom of the mount where the people were, nor so near it as to know what they did there, for of their affairs he seems to be entirely ignorant; nor so high as where Moses was, or, however, not in the cloud where he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:18

And he said ,.... Not Joshua, as Saadiah Gaon thinks, but Moses, in answer to what Joshua had said: it is not the voice of them that shout for mastery ; that have got the better of it, and have obtained the victory, and shout on that account; or, "not the voice of a cry of strength", or "of a strong cry" F8 קול ענות גבורה "vox eorum qui respondeant fortiter", Tigurine version; "vox clamoris fortis", Drusius. ; that is, of men who have got the victory, and are in high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:19

And it came to pass, as soon, as he came nigh unto the camp ,.... To the bottom of the mountain, and pretty near where the people were encamped: that he saw the calf, and the dancing ; the golden image of the calf, and the people dancing about it, in honour of it, and as glad they had got a symbol and representation of God to go before them; and so the Egyptians did before the golden ox; as Philo says, before observed: and Moses's anger waxed hot : he fell into a passion of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:20

And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire ,.... Melted it down into a mass of gold, whereby it lost its form, and had no more the appearance of a calf: and ground it to powder ; but how this was done is not easy to say, whether by beating the mass of gold into thin plates, and then filing them small; for this art has remained unknown; the chemists have boasted of it as only possessed of it; but it seems Moses, learned in all the learning of the Egyptians, had it:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:21

And Moses said unto Aaron ,.... Having destroyed the calf, and thereby expressed his abhorrence of their idolatry, he examines the principal persons concerned, and inquires into the cause and reason of it, how it came about; and begins with Aaron, though his own brother, with whom along with Hur he had committed the government of the people during his absence; and therefore was justly accountable for such a transaction, which could not have been without his knowledge and consent: no mention... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:22

And Aaron said, let not the anger of my lord wax hot ,.... He addresses him in a very respectful manner, though his younger brother, being in a superior office, the chief ruler of the people, king in Jeshurun; and he perceived a violent emotion rising in him, great indignation in his countenance, and an high resentment of what was done, and therefore he entreats his patience to hear him, in a few words, what he had to say, and he begins with the well known character of the people: thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:23

For they said unto me, make us gods, which shall go before us ,.... Which was true, Exodus 32:1 but then he should have told them, that gods were not to be made; that what were made with hands were no gods, and could not go before them; that the making of any image, similitude, or representation of God, was forbidden by him, as they had lately heard from his own mouth; he should have dissuaded from such idolatry, by showing them the evil nature of the sin, and the ruin they exposed... read more

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