Deuteronomy 9:21

21 But that sin-thing that you made, that calf-god, I took and burned in the fire, pounded and ground it until it was crushed into a fine powder, then threw it into the stream that comes down the mountain.

Deuteronomy 9:21 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:21

And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made
Which was the object of their sin, which lay in making and worshipping it; see ( Isaiah 31:7 )

and burnt it with fire, and stamped it;
with his feet after it was burnt, to bring it into small pieces:

and ground it very small;
or, as the Targum of Jonathan,

``ground it in a mortar well;''

the burnt and broken pieces:

even until it was as small as dust;
being ground to powder, as in ( Exodus 32:20 )

and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the
mount;
and made the children of Israel to drink of it, as in the previously mentioned place; (See Gill on Exodus 32:2); all this was done before the prayer for Aaron and the people.

Deuteronomy 9:21 In-Context

19 I was terrified of God's furious anger, his blazing anger. I was sure he would destroy you. But once again God listened to me.
20 And Aaron! How furious he was with Aaron - ready to destroy him. But I prayed also for Aaron at that same time.
21 But that sin-thing that you made, that calf-god, I took and burned in the fire, pounded and ground it until it was crushed into a fine powder, then threw it into the stream that comes down the mountain.
22 And then there was Camp Taberah (Blaze), Massah (Testing-Place), and Camp Kibroth Hattaavah (Graves-of-the-Craving) - more occasions when you made God furious with you.
23 The most recent was when God sent you out from Kadesh Barnea, ordering you: "Go. Possess the land that I'm giving you." And what did you do? You rebelled. Rebelled against the clear orders of God, your God. Refused to trust him. Wouldn't obey him.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.