Exodus 32

1 Now when the people [a nation, a large group of individuals] saw that Moses [the leader, prophet, and mediator] was delayed [taking a long time, tarrying] in coming down from the mountain [a high place, a location of spiritual encounter], they gathered [assembled, came together] around Aaron [the high priest, brother of Moses] and said, “Come, make us gods [idols, objects of worship] who will go before us [lead us, guide us]. As for this Moses [the man of God, the deliverer] who brought us up out of the land [the country, the territory] of Egypt [a place of bondage, a nation in northeast Africa], we do not know [are unaware, have no knowledge] what has happened to him [what his situation is, what has become of him]!” word study 2 So Aaron [the high priest, brother of Moses] told them, “Take off [break off, pluck off] the gold [valuable, precious] earrings [rings, nose-rings] that are on your wives [women, female companions] and sons [descendants, male children] and daughters [female children, girls], and bring [come, approach] them to me [toward me, into my presence].” word study 3 Then all [the entire nation, every individual] the people took off their gold [valuable, highly prized] earrings [nose-rings, jewelry] and brought them to Aaron [the brother of Moses, the first high priest]. word study 4 He took [received from their hand] the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool [stylus, a writing instrument] he fashioned [shaped, molded] it into a molten [liquid, cast metal] calf [a young male, nearly grown]. And they said, “These [specific, particular], O Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], are your gods [Elohim, the supreme rulers], who brought [ascended, led] you up out of the land [earth, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]!” word study 5 When Aaron [the brother of Moses and first high priest] saw this, he built [established, constructed] an altar [a place of sacrifice] before the calf [the golden idol] and proclaimed [announced, declared]: “Tomorrow [the next day, a future time] shall be a feast [a festival, a celebration] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God].” word study 6 So the next day [morrow, the following morning] they arose, offered [presented to God, brought near] burnt offerings [steps to the altar], and presented [brought near, drew close with] peace offerings [a voluntary sacrifice, an expression of gratitude]. And the people [a nation] sat down [dwelled, remained] to eat [devour, consume] and drink [feast, celebrate], and got up [rose, stood] to indulge [play, laugh, revel] in revelry [immoral celebration, excessive joy]. word study 7 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Go down [descend, to a lower place] at once, for your people [nation, those you are responsible for], whom you brought up [ascended, led] out of the land [earth, country] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], have corrupted [ruined, destroyed] themselves [their ways, their moral character]. word study 8 How quickly [hastily, with urgency] they have turned aside [departed, strayed] from the way [path, journey] that I commanded [gave orders, appointed] them! They have made [created, fashioned] for themselves a molten [molded, cast] calf [young bull, idol] and have bowed down [worshiped, prostrated] to it. They have sacrificed [offered, slain] to it and said, ‘These, O Israel [God’s chosen people], are your gods [divine rulers, Elohim], who brought [led, delivered] you up out of the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa].’” word study 9 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] also said to Moses, “I have seen [observed, looked after] this people [the nation of Israel], and they are indeed [behold, truly] a stiff-necked [severe, stubborn] people [a nation, a tribe]. word study 10 Now [at this time, in this moment] leave Me alone [do not intervene, let Me act], so that My anger [wrath, fierce indignation] may burn [be kindled, wax hot] against them and consume [destroy, use up] them. Then I will make [create, bring into being] you into a great [large, mighty] nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew people].” word study 11 But Moses [pleaded, besought] sought the favor of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] his God [Elohim, the supreme God], saying, “O LORD [Yehovah], why does Your anger [incensed, furious] burn against Your people [a nation, a tribe], whom You brought out of the land [the soil, the ground] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] with great [large, immense] power [strength, might] and a mighty [strong, powerful] hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share]? word study 12 Why should the Egyptians [the people of a powerful nation] declare, ‘He brought them out with [malicious purpose] evil intent, to kill them in the mountains [a location of danger] and wipe them from the face [presence, sight] of the earth’? Turn from Your [intense] fierce anger [burning wrath, divine displeasure] and relent [to be sorry, to comfort] from doing harm [bad, evil] to Your people [a nation]. word study 13 Remember [be mindful of, recall] Your servants [faithful followers, devoted ones] Abraham [the father of faith], Isaac [laughter, joy], and Israel [prince of God, symbolic name of Jacob], to whom You swore [made a promise, gave Your oath] by Your very self [Your own power, authority] when You declared [spoke, proclaimed], ‘I will make [multiply, increase] your descendants [seed, offspring] as numerous [abundant, countless] as the stars [heavenly bodies, celestial lights] in the sky [heaven, the universe], and I will give [bestow, grant] your descendants [seed, offspring] all this land [territory, inheritance] that I have promised [spoken of, vowed], and it shall be their inheritance [possession, heritage] forever [always, eternally].’” word study 14 So the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] relented [repented, changed His mind, was appeased] from the calamity [evil, bad, adversity] He had threatened [spoken of, thought to do] to bring [to make, do] on His people [nation, Amaw]. word study 15 Then Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] turned [to face, looking at the corner or gate] and went down [to descend, to a lower place] the mountain [a real mountain or hill] with the two [a pair, a duality] tablets [polished, possibly made of stone, wood, or metal] of the Testimony [a witness, God’s laws or instructions] in his hands. They were inscribed [written, recorded, or engraved] on both sides [regions, areas beyond or across], front [one side] and back [the other side]. word study 16 The tablets [polished stones, possibly made of stone, wood, or metal] were the work [deed, action] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God], and the writing [something written, like a letter or poem] was the writing of God [the divine Author], engraved [carved, cut] on the tablets [the physical medium of the covenant]. word study 17 When Joshua [the leader] heard the sound [voice, noise] of the people [Amaw, a nation] shouting [in a loud shout of joy, with a crash of thunder], he said to Moses [the Israelite leader], “The sound [voice, noise] of war [battle, conflict] is in the camp [army, encampment].” word study 18 But Moses replied: “It is neither the cry [voice of them that shout for mastery] of victory nor the cry [voice of them that cry for being overcome] of defeat; I hear the sound [noise] of singing [people partying, making music, responding in praise]!” word study 19 As Moses [the Israelite leader] approached the camp [the Israelites’ encampment] and saw the calf [a young male calf, an idol] and the dancing [a celebratory dance, an act of worship], he burned with anger [his anger waxed hot, he was incensed] and threw the tablets [polished tablets, possibly made of stone] out of his hands, shattering them [breaking, smashing] at the base [underneath, below] of the mountain [a real mountain]. word study 20 Then he took [laid hold of, grasped] the calf [young bull, idol] they had made [constructed, fashioned], burned [consumed with fire, destroyed] it in the fire [flames, blaze], ground [crushed, pulverized] it to powder [fine dust, small particles], and scattered [strewed, tossed] the powder [dust, fragments] over the face [surface, presence] of the water [liquid, source of refreshment]. Then he forced [made, compelled] the Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s people] to drink [consume, swallow] it. word study 21 “What did this people [the nation of Israel, a people or nation] do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led [brought, caused] them into so great [serious, significant] a sin [offense, rebellion against God, a missing of the mark]?” word study 22 “Do not be enraged [let not your anger wax hot], my lord [master, ruler],” Aaron replied. “You yourself know [are aware, understand] that the people [nation, community] are intent on [set on, prone to] evil [bad, morally wrong]. word study 23 They told me, ‘Make us gods [divine beings, idols to worship] who will go before us [lead us, guide us]. As for this Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet] who brought us up out of the land [country, territory] of Egypt, we do not know [are unaware, have no knowledge] what has happened [occurred, come to pass] to him!’ word study 24 So I said [spoke, commanded] to them, ‘Whoever has gold [valuable metal], let him take it off [break it off, remove it],’ and they gave [handed over, surrendered] it to me. And when I threw [cast, tossed] it into the fire [refining flame], out came [emerged, appeared] this calf [young bull, idolatrous image]!” word study 25 Moses [the leader of Israel] saw that the people [a nation, a multitude] were out of control [running wild, unbridled], for Aaron [the high priest] had let them run wild [to neglect, to expose] and become a laughingstock [an object of derision, to shame] to their enemies [those who withstand them, adversaries]. word study 26 So Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] stood [to stand in a strong sense] at the entrance [gate, door] to the camp [a group of people, army] and said, “Whoever [who, whose, whom] is for the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] [on the Lord’s side, loyal to Yehovah], come to me.” And all [everything, the whole] the Levites [descendants of Levi, a son of Jacob and Leah] gathered [brought together, assembled] around him. word study 27 He told them, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob and his descendants], says: ‘Each of you men [individuals, males] is to fasten his sword [a cutting instrument, a tool for battle] to his side [thigh], go back and forth [pass over, transition] through the camp [a group of people, an army] from gate [an entrance, a door] to gate, and slay [kill, destroy with intent] his brother [a male sibling, a close relative], his friend [a companion, a neighbor], and his neighbor [someone close, a fellow].’” word study 28 The Levites [sons of Levi, descendants of the tribe] did as Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant] commanded, and that day [a period of 24 hours, a significant moment] about three [a specific quantity, thrice] thousand [a large number, a multitude] of the people [a nation, a group of individuals] fell dead [were killed, perished, died suddenly]. word study 29 Afterward, Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] said, “Today [this very day, at this moment] you have been ordained [set apart, consecrated] for service [ministry, worship] to the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God], since each man [every individual, each person] went against [stood in opposition to, turned against] his son [his child, his descendant] and his brother [his close relative, his fellow man]; so the LORD [the sovereign God, the ruler of all] has bestowed [given, granted] a blessing [a gift of favor, a bestowal of goodness] on you this day [at this present time, in this moment].” word study 30 The next day [on the morrow, following day] Moses said to the people, “You have committed [sinned, done wrong] a great [grievous, serious] sin [transgression, offense]. Now I will go up [ascend, rise] to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]; perhaps [if it may be, peradventure] I can make atonement [cover, reconcile] for your sin [guilt, iniquity].” word study 31 So Moses [the Israelite leader] returned to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and said, “Oh, what a great [serious, grievous] sin [offense, transgression] these people [the nation of Israel] have committed [done wrong, missed the mark]! They have made [crafted, fashioned] gods [idols, false deities] of gold [a valuable, precious metal] for themselves [to worship, to serve]. word study 32 Yet now [at this time, in this moment], if You would only forgive [pardon, blot out] their sin [guilt, transgression]…. But if not [nothing, no forgiveness], please [I pray, I ask] blot me out [erase, wipe away] of the book [scroll, written record] that You have written [recorded, inscribed].” word study 33 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] replied to Moses, “Whoever [whosoever, anyone who] has sinned [missed the mark, gone wrong] against Me, I will blot [wipe, erase] out of My book [scroll, written document]. word study 34 Now [at this time, presently] go, lead [guide, direct] the people [a nation, community] to the place [location, area] I described [spoken of, commanded]. Behold [look, see], My angel [messenger, representative] shall go before you [precede, accompany]. But on the day [time, period] I settle accounts [reckon, visit], I will punish [visit upon, hold accountable] them for their sin [guilt, transgression, an offense against God’s law, a missing of the mark].” word study 35 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] sent [struck, plagued] a plague [punishment, affliction] on the people [a nation, a tribe] because of what they had done [made, worshipped] with the calf [a young male, a golden idol] that Aaron [the brother of Moses, the first high priest] had made [created, fashioned]. word study