Deuteronomy 9:21

21 Then I took the sinful thing you had made, the calf, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it thoroughly, until it was reduced to dust; and I threw the dust of it into the stream that runs 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 For I was afraid that the anger that the Lord bore against you was so fierce that he would destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also.

20 The Lord was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him, but I interceded also on behalf of Aaron at that same time.

21 Then I took the sinful thing you had made, the calf, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it thoroughly, until it was reduced to dust; and I threw the dust of it into the stream that runs down the mountain.

22 At Taberah also, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah, you provoked the Lord to wrath.

23 And when the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, "Go up and occupy the land that I have given you," you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God, neither trusting him nor obeying him.