Exodus 32:14

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 32:14

And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. He did not do what he threatened to do, and seemed to have in his thoughts and designs, but did what Moses desired he would, Exodus 32:12 not that any of God's thoughts or the determinations of his mind are alterable; for the thoughts of his heart are to all generations; but he changes the outward dispensations of his providence, or his methods of acting with men, which he has been taking or threatened to take; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 32:14

And the Lord repented of the evil - This is spoken merely after the manner of men who, having formed a purpose, permit themselves to be diverted from it by strong and forcible reasons, and so change their minds relative to their former intentions. 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 32:11-15

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 32:14

The Lord repented of the evil . Changes of purpose are, of course, attributed to God by an "economy," or accommodation of the truth to human modes of speech and conception. "God is not a man that he should repent." He "knows the end from the beginning." When he threatened to destroy Israel, he knew that he would spare; but, as he communicated to Moses, first, his anger, and then, at a later period, his intention to spare, he is said to have "repented." The expression is an anthropomorphic... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 32:14

Some powers restrain, some compel. Here we see a restraining power, and one which can even restrain God. Notice— I. EVIL THREATENED . 1 . Justly merited . Remember all that had gone before: deliverance after a series of awe-inspiring judgments on the oppressors; warnings after previous murmurings; now, with a fuller revelation of God's majesty, this act of impatient apostasy: all compelled to the conclusion that the people were utterly stiff-necked ( Exodus 32:9 ). 2 . ... 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 32:14

Exodus 32:14. The Lord repented of the evil Changed his sentence at the entreaty of Moses, who in this represented the Lord Christ, the great Mediator and Intercessor for all the sinful race. He was pleased not to inflict upon them that punishment which he threatened, (Exodus 32:10,) and so acted as men do when they repent and change their minds. Though he designed to punish them, yet he would not ruin them. See here the power of prayer! God suffers himself to be prevailed with by humble,... read more

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