Exodus 32:21-35 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 32:30-35

Moses, having executed justice upon the principal offenders, is here dealing both with the people and with God. I. With the people, to bring them to repentance, Exod. 32:30. 1. When some were slain, lest the rest should imagine that, because they were exempt from the capital punishment, they were therefore looked upon as free from guilt, Moses here tells the survivors, You have sinned a great sin, and therefore, though you have escaped this time, except you repent, you shall all likewise... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:24

And I said unto them, whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off ,.... That is, any ear rings of gold, let them loose or take them off their ears: so they gave it me ; of their own accord, as if unasked by him, though he had bid them bring it to him, Exodus 32:2 , then I cast it into the fire ; to melt it, but says nothing of the mould the melted gold was poured into: and there came out this calf ; he speaks of it as if the gold became in the form of a calf without any... 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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 32:30-35

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 32:25

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

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

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

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