Exodus 32:4-6

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:6

And they rose up early in the morning ,.... Being eager of, and intent upon their idol worship: and offered burnt offerings ; upon the altar Aaron had made, where they were wholly consumed: and brought peace offerings : which were to make a feast to the Lord, and of which they partook: and the people sat down to eat and to drink ; as at a feast: and rose up to play ; to dance and sing, as was wont to be done by the Egyptians in the worship of their Apis or Ox; and Philo the... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:6

The people sat down to eat and to drink - The burnt-offerings were wholly consumed; the peace-offerings, when the blood bad been poured out, became the food of the priests, etc. When therefore the strictly religious part of these ceremonies was finished, the people sat down to eat of the peace-offerings, and this they did merely as the idolaters, eating and drinking to excess. And it appears they went much farther, for it is said they rose up to play, לצחק letsachek , a word of ominous... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:6

Verse 6 6.And they rose up early on the morrow. The earnestness of the people in the prosecution of their error is again set forth; for there is no doubt but that it was at their demand that Aaron proclaimed the solemn sacrifice; and now it is not only added that they were ready for it in time, but their extraordinary diligence is declared in that they appeared at the very dawn of day. Now, if, at the instigation of the devil, unbelievers are thus driven headlong to their destruction, alas for... read more

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