Exodus 32:4-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 32:1-6

While Moses was in the mount, receiving the law from God, the people had time to meditate upon what had been delivered, and prepare themselves for what was further to be revealed, and forty days was little enough for that work; but, instead of that, there were those among them that were contriving how to break the laws they had already received, and to anticipate those which they were in expectation of. On the thirty-ninth day of the forty, the plot broke out of rebellion against the Lord.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:4

And he received them at their hand ,.... For the use they delivered them to him: and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf ; that is, after he had melted the gold, and cast it into a mould, which gave it the figure of a calf, and with his tool wrought it into a more agreeable form, he took off the roughness of it, and polished it; or if it was in imitation of the Egyptian Apis or Osiris, he might with his graving tool engrave such marks and figures as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:5

And when Aaron saw it ,.... In what form it was, and what a figure it made, and how acceptable it was to the Israelites. The Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase it,"and Aaron saw Hur slain before him;'for reproving them for their idolatry, as the Midrash F5 So Pirke Eliezer, c. 45. , quoted by Jarchi, says: and Aaron fearing they would take away his life if he opposed them: he built an altar before it ; that sacrifice might be offered on it to it: and Aaron made... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:4

Fashioned it with a graving tool - There has been much controversy about the meaning of the word חרט cheret in the text: some make it a mould, others a garment, cloth, or apron; some a purse or bag, and others a graver. It is likely that some mould was made on this occasion, that the gold when fused was cast into it, and that afterwards it was brought into form and symmetry by the action of the chisel and graver. These be thy gods, O Israel - The whole of this is a most strange and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:5

To-morrow is a feast to the Lord - In Bengal the officiating Brahmin, or an appointed person proclaims, "To-morrow, or on - day of -, such a ceremony will be performed!" read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:4

Verse 4 4.And he received them at their hand. He briefly narrates this base and shameful deed; yet sufficiently shows, that whilst Aaron yielded to their madness, he still desired to cure it, though, at the same time, he was weak and frightened, so as to pretend to give his assent, because he feared the consequences of the tumult as regarded himself. For why does he not command the ear-rings to be thrown into some chest, lest he should pollute himself by the contagion of the sacrilege? Since,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:5

Verse 5 5.And, when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. When he sees the people so infuriated, that he despairs of being able to resist their conspiracy, in perfidious cowardice he gives way to compliance. And this end awaits all those who do not dare ingenuously and firmly to maintain what is right, but who bargain, as it were, and descend to compromises; for, after they have vacillated for a while, (332) they at length succumb altogether, so as to shrink from nothing, however unworthy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 32:1-6

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 32:1-6

The hankering after idols, and its consequences. There is a war ever going on in human nature between the flesh and the spirit ( Romans 7:23 ; Romans 8:1-13 ). The two are "contrary the one to the other." From the time of their leaving Egypt, the Israelites had been leading a spiritual life, depending upon an unseen God—following his mandates—reposing under the sense of his protection. But the strain was too much for them. So long as they had Moses with them, to encourage them by his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 32:1-6

The Golden Calf. I. THE PEOPLE 'S REQUEST TO AARON . 1 . The cause of the request . There are really two causes to be considered here, first, a cause of which they were conscious, and then, secondly, a deeper cause of which they were not conscious. The delay of Moses to return was the reason they put forward. We must do them the justice of noticing that they seem to have waited till the forty days were well-nigh expired before preferring their request; and an absence of... read more

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