Exodus 32

1 delayed. Moses had been absent from the camp for more than a month. This long delay was probably intended to test the people’s fidelity to Jehovah; and the result shows how deeply they had become tainted with Egyptian idolatry.

gods. Rather, “a god.” So vers. 4, 8.

2 earrings. Some suppose that Aaron, wishing to keep the people from forsaking Jehovah, hoped by this proposal to divert them from their purpose; presuming that they would naturally be loth to part with such costly ornaments. If so, his temporising policy met with deserved failure.

4 a molten calf. There was probably a roughly-made centre of wood, upon which the gold, molten into plates, was fastened; the image of the calf being then finished by hand. It could therefore be burned and ground to powder (see ver. 20). Apis, one of the principal Egyptian deities, was represented by a calf, which was used as an image of Jehovah (see ver. 5), in direct violation of the second command in the Decalogue.

6 rose up to play. They gave themselves up to the wanton licentiousness which accompanied heathen festivals.

9 it is a stiffnecked people. A frequent image, taken from a refractory beast, which will not bend its neck to the yoke; here obviously meaning a self-willed, obstinate people.

17. Joshua. Joshua had accompanied Moses as his attendant (xxiv. 13), and was probably awaiting his return at a lower part of the mountain.

20 drink of it. As they had no other water to drink. They were thus made to loathe the object of their idolatrous worship.

25 naked. The word rather means disorderly, reckless, or licentious. “Aaron had let them loose, for a derision (whispering) among their enemies” (R.V.). See ver. 6; 1 Cor. x. 7, 8. Moses felt deeply how much the people had disgraced themselves in the eyes of their heathen enemies.

26 all the sons of Levi. There were probably many individuals belonging to the other tribes who answered to this appeal; but the Levites as a tribe ranged themselves on the side of Jehovah and His servant.

29. Consecrate. Heb., “Fill your hand.” That is, “Show yourselves devoted to God’s service by this act of holy indignation.”

32 if Thou wilt forgive their sin. The unfinished sentence shows the strength of emotion.—blot me, etc. i.e., “take me from among the living,"—apparently offering to bear the people’s sin himself as their substitute. But no one, except the Divine Redeemer, who “gave Himself for us,” is able to expiate sin. See Rom. ix. 3.—thy book. Cp. Dan. xii. 1; Rev. iii. 5; xx. 12, 15; xxii. 19.

34. Mine Angel. In opposition to “Myself.” See xxxiii. 3.