Exodus 32:25-29

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 32:25

And when Moses saw that the people were naked ,.... Not in their bodies, being stripped of their ear rings; for parting with them was not sufficient to denominate them naked in a corporeal sense; nor as being without their armour, which was laid aside while they were eating, and drinking, and dancing about the calf, and so might be thought a proper opportunity for the Levites to fall upon them, by the order of Moses, and slay them: but it can hardly be thought that all the people bore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:26

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp ,.... In one of the gates of it; for it doubtless had more than one to go in and out of, as is clear from Exodus 32:27 it being probably entrenched all around; here Moses set himself, it being the usual place, as in cities, where the people were summoned together on important occasions, and justice and judgment were administered: and said, who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me ; who is for the worship of the true God, and him only,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:27

And he said unto them, thus saith the Lord God of Israel ,.... The following orders are given by Moses, not of himself the chief magistrate, and as the effect of heat and passion, but there were from the Lord, who was Israel's God and King; he had them expressly from him, or by an impulse on his spirit, or in such a way and manner that he knew it was of God, and this was his will: put every man his sword by his side ; girt there, ready to be drawn upon order: and go in and out from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:28

And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses ,.... They girded their swords by their sides, went through the camp, and slew their brethren, companions and neighbours, who were keeping holy day in honour of the idol: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men ; the Vulgate Latin version reads 23,000, very wrongly; now these being chiefly, if not altogether, of the tribe of Levi, the brethren, companions, and neighbours of the Levites, that were the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:29

For Moses had said ,.... To the Levites, when he first gave them their orders: consecrate yourselves today to the Lord ; devote yourselves to his service, by obeying his orders, slaying those, or the heads of them, who have cast so much contempt upon him as to worship the golden calf in his room; and which would be as acceptable to him as the offerings were, by which Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the Lord; and as these Levites were consecrated to his service this day, on this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:25

Moses saw that the people were naked - They were stripped, says the Targum, of the holy crown that was upon their heads, on which the great and precious name Jehovah was engraved. But it is more likely that the word פרע parua implies that they were reduced to the most helpless and wretched state, being abandoned by God in the midst of their enemies. This is exactly similar to that expression, 2 Chronicles 28:19 ; : For the Lord brought Judah low, because of Ahaz king of Israel: for he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:26

Who is on the Lord's side? - That is, Who among you is free from this transgression? And all the sons of Levi, etc. - It seems they had no part in this idolatrous business. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:27

From gate to gate - It is probable that there was an enclosed or entrenched camp, in which the chief rulers and heads of the people were, and that this camp had two gates or outlets; and the Levites were commanded to pass from one to the other, slaying as many of the transgressors as they could find. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:28

There fell about three thousand men - These were no doubt the chief transgressors; having broken the covenant by having other gods besides Jehovah, they lost the Divine protection, and then the justice of God laid hold on and slew them. Moses doubtless had positive orders from God for this act of justice, (see Exodus 32:27 ;); for though, through his intercession, the people were spared so as not to be exterminated as a nation, yet the principal transgressors, those who were set on... read more

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