15 And Moses turneth, and goeth down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony 'are' in his hand, tables written on both their sides, on this and on that 'are' they written; 16 and the tables are the work of God, and the writing is the writing of God, graven on the tables. 17 And Joshua heareth the voice of the people in their shouting, and saith unto Moses, 'A noise of battle in the camp!' 18 and he saith, 'It is not the voice of the crying of might, nor is it the voice of the crying of weakness—a voice of singing I am hearing.' 19 And it cometh to pass, when he hath drawn near unto the camp, that he seeth the calf, and the dancing, and the anger of Moses burneth, and he casteth out of his hands the tables, and breaketh them under the mount; 20 and he taketh the calf which they have made, and burneth 'it' with fire, and grindeth until 'it is' small, and scattereth on the face of the waters, and causeth the sons of Israel to drink.
21 And Moses saith unto Aaron, 'What hath this people done to thee, that thou hast brought in upon it a great sin?' 22 and Aaron saith, 'Let not the anger of my lord burn; thou—thou hast known the people that it 'is' in evil; 23 and they say to me, Make for us gods, who go before us, for this Moses—the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt—we have not known what hath happened to him; 24 and I say to them, Whoso hath gold, let them break 'it' off, and they give to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf cometh out.' 25 And Moses seeth the people that it 'is' unbridled, for Aaron hath made it unbridled for contempt among its withstanders, 26 and Moses standeth in the gate of the camp, and saith, 'Who 'is' for Jehovah?—unto me!' and all the sons of Levi are gathered unto him; 27 and he saith to them, 'Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Put each his sword by his thigh, pass over and turn back from gate to gate through the camp, and slay each his brother, and each his friend, and each his relation.' 28 And the sons of Levi do according to the word of Moses, and there fall of the people on that day about three thousand men, 29 and Moses saith, 'Consecrate your hand to-day to Jehovah, for a man 'is' against his son, and against his brother, so as to bring on you to-day a blessing.'
30 And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that Moses saith unto the people, 'Ye—ye have sinned a great sin, and now I go up unto Jehovah, if so be I atone for your sin.' 31 And Moses turneth back unto Jehovah, and saith, 'Oh this people hath sinned a great sin, that they make to themselves a god of gold; 32 and now, if Thou takest away their sin—and if not—blot me, I pray thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.' 33 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Whoso hath sinned against Me—I blot him out of My book; 34 and now, go, lead the people whithersoever I have spoken to thee of; lo, My messenger goeth before thee, and in the day of my charging—then I have charged upon them their sin.' 35 And Jehovah plagueth the people, because they made the calf which Aaron made.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 32:15-35
Commentary on Exodus 32:15-20
(Read Exodus 32:15-20)
What a change it is, to come down from the mount of communion with God, to converse with a wicked world. In God we see nothing but what is pure and pleasing; in the world nothing but what is sinful and provoking. That it might appear an idol is nothing in the world, Moses ground the calf to dust. Mixing this powder with their drink, signified that the backslider in heart should be filled with his own ways.
Commentary on Exodus 32:21-29
(Read Exodus 32:21-29)
Never did any wise man make a more frivolous and foolish excuse than that of Aaron. We must never be drawn into sin by any thing man can say or do to us; for men can but tempt us to sin, they cannot force us. The approach of Moses turned the dancing into trembling. They were exposed to shame by their sin. The course Moses took to roll away this reproach, was, not by concealing the sin, or putting any false colour upon it, but by punishing it. The Levites were to slay the ringleaders in this wickedness; yet none were executed but those who openly stood forth. Those are marked for ruin who persist in sin: those who in the morning were shouting and dancing, before night were dying. Such sudden changes do the judgments of the Lord sometimes make with sinners that are secure and jovial in their sin.
Commentary on Exodus 32:30-35
(Read Exodus 32:30-35)
Moses calls it a great sin. The work of ministers is to show people the greatness of their sins. The great evil of sin appears in the price of pardon. Moses pleads with God for mercy; he came not to make excuses, but to make atonement. We are not to suppose that Moses means that he would be willing to perish for ever, for the people's sake. We are to love our neighbour as ourselves, and not more than ourselves. But having that mind which was in Christ, he was willing to lay down his life in the most painful manner, if he might thereby preserve the people. Moses could not wholly turn away the wrath of God; which shows that the law of Moses was not able to reconcile men to God, and to perfect our peace with him. In Christ alone, God so pardons sin as to remember it no more. From this history we see, that no unhumbled, carnal heart, can long endure the holy precepts, the humbling truths, and the spiritual worship of God. But a god, a priest, a worship, a doctrine, and a sacrifice, suited to the carnal mind, will ever meet with abundance of worshippers. The very gospel itself may be so perverted as to suit a worldly taste. Well is it for us, that the Prophet like unto Moses, but who is beyond compare more powerful and merciful, has made atonement for our souls, and now intercedes in our behalf. Let us rejoice in his grace.