Exodus 32

The people causeth Aaron to make a golden calf , v.1, etc. Unto which they offer sacrifice , 6. God makes this known to Moseh , and threatneth to destroy them , 7.Moseh prays for them, 11. and perwades God to have mercy on them , 14. Moseh cometh down from the Mount with two stone Tables , 15.which he breaks in pieces, hearing and seeing the idolatry of the people , 19. He burns the calf into powder , 20. Aarons excuse , 22. Moseh causeth many of those that committed this Idolatry , to be put to death by the Levites , 25. Moseh prayeth to the LORD , either to pardon Israel this sin , or to blot him out of his book, 32. God spares the people for the present , but punisheth them afterwards , 34.

1. When the people saw , that Moseh delayed to come down from the Mount , then the people gathered themselves [Understand here a great part of, but not all the people ; for those are not to be counted of the number here , who afterwards on Mosehs command , did put the Idolaters to death , verse 26. see 1 Cor. 10.7.] to Aaron , [Oth.against] and they said to him , Arise , make us Gods , [i.e. a visible Token , image of the invisible God, as verse 4.] that may go before our face ; for this Moseh , that Man , that carried us forth out of Egypt , we know not what happened to him .

2. Aaron now said unto them , pluck off the golden pendants , ( ear-ornaments ) which are in the ears of your wives , or your sons , and of your daughters , and bring them to me . [It is probable , Aaron did conceive , the Israelites would rather have forborn the golden calf , then to deliver up their precious jewels in this manner ; but he was much deceived .]

3. Then all the people pluekt off their golden pendants , which were in their ears , and they brought them to Aaron .

4. And he took them out of their hand , and he cast it [viz. the calf] with a graver , [or, pen ; as Isa . 8.1. the meaning seems to be , that Aaron first projected or drew the figure and shape of a calf , by pe, or pencil, or graver upon some other matter , to hold it forth unto the people , and to ask them how they liked it] And he made a molten out of it: [Heb he made it calfof founding. Oth. A molten oxe. The idol Apis is worshiped by the Egyptians, in he shape an exe, or a calf; and this it should seem the Israelists here imitated] Then they said, There are thys Gods, Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

5. When Aaron saw that, [Viz. that the people was ready to yeild divine worship to the calf] he built an Atar for the same: and Aaron proclaimed, and sais ; tommorrow (ther) shall be a feast to the LORD. [Aaron here he makes use of the Name of the true God, as intending to serve him by his calf, and yet all what Idolatry in God account]

6. And they rose early in the next, and affered burnt – offering, and brought thank – offering to it;[Viz. to the Alter newly set up, i.e they offered and sacrificed to the calf] and the people sate them down to eat and to drink; after that , they rose up for to play. [See on ver. 19]

7. Then the LORD sapke unto Moseh; Go, get thee down for thy people [God doth disdain to call the Israelites his people any more, having made themselves a calf for their God] whom thou shalt carried forth out of Egypt, hath spoiled (or, corrupted)it. [oth. Hath corrupted it self, or, have corrupted themselves, i.e. they have by their Idolatry undone and brought destruction upon themselves.]

8. And they are soon departed [Viz. immediately after the Covenant made with them; Exod 19 and 24 chap] from the way which i had commanded them; they made themselves a molten calf; [Aaron made it, or caused it to be made, verse 4. at the instance, or at the commanded of the people, verse 1.] and they have bowed themselves down before the same, and have made sacrifies to it, [Viz. to the calf, and not to me, whatever they pretend to the contray, as if they did it to the LORD, verse] and said; these are thy Gods, Israel, which carried thee up out of the land of Egypt.

9. Morevover the LORD said to Moseh: i have seen this same people, and behold it is a stiff – necked people. [i.e. wilful, obstinate, unruly, that will not bow nor bend his neck to the laws and will of the LORD . It ia a comparison taken from such beast, as use to stretch forth or keep up their neck so stiff, that they will not bend nor bow to him that would lay on he yoak upon the, or rule and govern them with bit OR BRIDLE. See Deuteronomy 10:16. Proverbs 29:1. Acts 7:51.]

10. And now permit me, [And hinder me not by thy intercession, for the prayer of the faithful prevaileth much with God, James 5:16.] that my wrath may kindle against them, and consume them; then shall i make the great people.

11. Yet Moseh adored the face of the LORD his God: and he said, O LORD; why should wrath kinde against thy people, which thou hast carried for th out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand?

12. Why should the Egyptians speak , saying , In evil [i.e. with a subtil and ill intent. Oth for evil, or mischief, i.e. to their ruine and destruction] hath he carriedd them forth, that he might put them to death on the mountains, and that he might destroy them the face of the earth , [i.e. from reamining any longer upon the earth] turn off the servency of thy wrath, and let it repent thee over the evil of thy people. [moseh prayeth here, that Gd would rent, i.e. that he would he woould not let the eveil, i.e. the punishment which they had deserved, and he treatned, to light upon them. See Gen. 6. verse6.]

13. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel thy servants, [i.e. remember the promise which thou hast made to Abraham, &c.] to whom thou hast sworm by thy self, [God having none grater to swear by , he sweareth by himself , Hebrews 6:13.,17.] and hast spoken unto them, i will multiply your seeda s the first star of Heaven; [see Genesis 15:5.] and this whole land, whereof i spake [i.e. promised] i will give unto your seed, that they shalt possess it hereditary for ever.

14. Then it repented the LORD over the evil which he had spoken to do unot his people. [I.e. he did not destroy the people, according as he had threatned, but contented himself with the flaying three thousand onely of them]

15. And Moseh turned him (self) about, and went down the Mount, with two Tables of the Testimony in his hand: these Tables were inscribed on both their sides, they were inscribed upon the other side. [Heb from hence from thence.]

16. And these Tables were Gods work, the writing also was God writing it self, graven in the Tables.

17. Now when JOSHUA [who remained upon the mount with Moseh, Exodus 24:13. heard the voice of the people. When it shouted; he said to Moseh, There a shout of war in the Camp.

18. But he [viz. Moseh] said; it is no voice of the cry victory , it is n voice neither of the cry of defeat: [Heb it is no voice of the cry of the strength , and it is no voice of the crying of weakness] i hear a voice of singing bu turns.

19. And it came to pass, when he drew near to the Camp, an saw the Clf, and the dance; [Understand such dance to the manner of the Heathern] that wrath incensed Moseh, and tha he threw the Tables out of his hands, and brake the same [viz. before the peoplee eyes] beneath at the Mountain.

20. And he took that Calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire [i.e. he melted the Claf, and reduced it into a lump again] and ground it till it was small, and sacttered it upon the water, and made the children of Israel to drink it, [that thereby they might learn to understand the vanity of sucH Gods, that could be swallowed u thus, as also to minde the Israelite s, that they had deserved to drink up the curse and wrath of God. See Numb 5.18.]

21. And Moseh said to Aaron What hath this people done to thee, that thou hast brought such a great sin over (or, upon) the same.

22. Then Aaron said, Let not the anger of my Lord kinde; thou knowest this people , that is (lieth) in evil.

23. They then said to me, Make us Gods, that may go before our face; for this Moseh, that man which carried u upon out of Egypt , we know not happened to him:

24. Then i said to them, whoso hath gold, let him pluck it off, and i cast it into the fire, and there came this calf forth. [Aaron doth not consess his own sin so uprightly and plainly, as he had done the peoples transgression he speaketh of the Calf here, as it had been made and produced, rather by accident, then by acident, then by his design and forecast; but above verse 4. the matter is described far otherwise, See Deut.9.20. Aaron excuse here, is much like to Adams Gens.3.]

25. When Moseh saw, that the people was made bare, (or script) [Not so much of their ornaments, as of Gods protection, being now as so many naked and disarmed men, who might easily in that case be surprised and destroyed by their Enemies. Compare this with Gen.3.10. Revelation 3:18. and 16. 15.] (for Aaron had made them bare) [this making and exposing the people bare thus is ascribed unto Aaron, for that he not only gave his content to the wicked desire of the people, but likewise further and advanced it] to (an) under value among those that might have risen against them.

26. Then Moseh stayed in the gate of the Camp , [The Camp was surrounded with a Tench, or Phillisadoe, or some such way, and had its gates here there. Otherwise gates were also the places of Judicature, as Genesis 34:20. Deuteronomy 17:5. Ruth 4:1,11.] and said, Whoso belongeth to the LORD, let him (come) to me: [or to me who is the LORDS. Moseh speaking in zeal and bast and leaving outt words of circumstance. See the like, Genesis 13:9. and 23.13 etc] then (there) gathered themselves unto him all the sons of Levi [i.e. almost dolatry , even Aaron himself. See vers. 29. and Deuteronomy 9:20 and chap 33.9. Oth and they which gathered themselves unto him, were all (of the) children of Levi, who having staid at home, and remained in their Tents, committed no Idolatry inworshipping the Calf]

27. And he said unto them; Thus saith the LORD. The God of Israel, [viz. the true God of Israel, not the Claf, whereof they said, above ver. 5. Thses are thy Gods, Israel] Evry one put his sword upon his thigh go through, and turn again from gate in the Camp, and every one kills his brother, every one his friend, and every one his neighbour [.e. Let every one of you slay the next man he meets with, sparing no relation, of either brother, friend, or neighbour.]

28. And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moseh; and ther fell [viz. by the edge of the sword] of the people on that day, about three thousand men.

29. For Moseh had said; [Here is shewed, what it was that made the Levits so stout and so undaunted, that they spared not their next and every friends; namely, because they had understood by Moseh, that they should do God an acceptable service, and that thereby they should acquire and receive and receive a special blessing at Gods hands] Fill your hands to day unto the LORD; [i.e hallow or consecrate to day unto the LORD; that is so say, perform his holy service unto him. See Lev.7. Ro say, perform this holy service unto him. See Leviticus 7:37. God doth witness here, that the executing of Justice and punishment upon the evil doers, is as acceptable him of the Levites Moseh repeateth, Deuteronomy 33:9.] for every one shall be against his son, and against his brother and this, that he [viz. the LORD] my give to day a blessing over you.

30. And it came to pass the next day [viz. after the flaying of these three thousand men] that Moseh said to the people, Ye have sinned a great sin; yet now i will go up to the LORD, peradventure i shall make an expiation for your sin.

31. So Moseh returned to the LORD, [Moseh stayed again fourty days upon the Mount, without food, paying for people to the LORD, Deuteronomy 9:18.] and said Ah, this people hath sinned a great sin, that they made themselves golden Gods[Oth. A God of gold , i.e. the golden Calf.]

32. Now then if thou wilt forgive their sins [Understanding then it is well. Compare this abrupt manner of speaking, with Luke 13:9] but if not, then blot me out of thy book, which thou, which thou hast written. [Being once gain: But Moseh shweth by these words his award zeal for the glory of God, and his great love to the people of Israel. Compare herewith he zeal of Paul, Romans 9:3. The book of God , and great love to the people of Israel. Compare herewith the Zeal of Paul. , Romans 9:3. The book of God is otherwise called the Book of Life, being that therein stand recorded all those whom God hath ordained for eternal life, Philippians 4:3. yet this is spoken of God after the manner of men: for by this Book there is nothing else to be understood, but his eternal Counsel, and unalterable Decree of Elecion.]

33. Then the LORD said to Moseh; Him i should blot out of my Book, that sinneth against me. [Understand hereby, if so be that any one might be blotted out thence. Oth, him i shall, or, will bot out]

34. Yet go (thy way) now, lead people , whither i told thee, [Viz towards the Land of Canaan] Behold , my Angel shall go before thy face; [thus God threatneth in his wrath, to give over this people to Moseh, and to an Angle; whereof their see farther, chap 33. on verse 2.] yet on the other day of my visit, shall i visist [see Gen 21. verse 1.] their sin [especially this sin of Idolatry committed with the golden Calf] upon them.

35. Thus the LORD plagued this people;[Other smote, etc. by the sword of the Levites, verse 28] for having made that Calf, which Aaron made, [i.e. for that they had solicited and pressed Aaron thus make then his Calf. That which one doth by onother, is all ones if he did it himself; though in the meen time, he be not guiltness, that suffers himself to be made by an instrument.]