Exodus 32:34 - Exposition

Lead the people unto the place, etc. This was a revocation of the sentence of death passed in Exodus 32:10 . The people was to be spared, and Moses was to conduct them to Palestine. Mine Angel shall go before thee. Mine Angel—not I myself (compare Exodus 33:2 , Exodus 33:3 ). Another threatened punishment, which was revoked upon the repentance of the people ( Exodus 33:4 , Exodus 33:6 ), and the earnest prayer of Moses ( Exodus 33:14-16 ). I will visit their sin upon them . Kalisch thinks that a plague was at once sent, and so understands Exodus 32:35 . But most commentators regard the day of visitation as that on which it was declared that none of those who had quitted Egypt should enter Canaan ( Numbers 14:35 ), and regard that sentence as, in fact, provoked by the golden calf idolatry ( Numbers 14:22 ).