Deuteronomy 9:20

20 In addition, ADONAI was very angry with Aharon and would have destroyed him; but I prayed for Aharon also at the same time.

Deuteronomy 9:20 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:20

And the Lord was very angry with Aaron, to have destroyed him,
&c.] For complying with the request of the people in making a calf for them, and for that miserable shift he made to excuse himself; which so provoked the Lord, that he threatened to destroy him, and he was in danger of being cut off, had it not been for the intercession of Moses:

and I prayed for Aaron also the same time:
who either was included in the general prayer for the people, ( Exodus 32:31 ) or a particular prayer was made for him, though not recorded, and which also succeeded.

Deuteronomy 9:20 In-Context

18 Then I fell down before ADONAI, as I had the first time, for forty days and nights, during which time I neither ate food nor drank water, all because of the sin you committed by doing what was evil in the sight of ADONAI and thus provoking him.

19 I was terrified that because of how angry ADONAI was at you, of how heatedly displeased he was, that he would destroy you. But ADONAI listened to me that time too.

20 In addition, ADONAI was very angry with Aharon and would have destroyed him; but I prayed for Aharon also at the same time.

21 I took your sin, the calf you had made, and burned it up in the fire, beat it to pieces, and ground it up still smaller, until it was as fine as dust; then I threw its dust into the stream coming down from the mountain.

22 "Again at Tav'erah, Massah and Kivrot-HaTa'avah you made ADONAI angry;