Exodus 32:22

22 "Don't be enraged, my lord," Aaron replied. "You yourself know that the people are [intent] on evil.

Exodus 32:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 32:22

And Aaron said, let not the anger of my lord wax hot
He addresses him in a very respectful manner, though his younger brother, being in a superior office, the chief ruler of the people, king in Jeshurun; and he perceived a violent emotion rising in him, great indignation in his countenance, and an high resentment of what was done, and therefore he entreats his patience to hear him, in a few words, what he had to say, and he begins with the well known character of the people:

thou knowest the people, that they [are] set on mischief;
or are "in wickedness" ^F17; wholly in it, and under the power and influence of it, given up to it, and bent upon it; and there was no restraining them from it; and he appeals to the knowledge of Moses himself for the truth of this, of which their several murmurings against him, since they came out of Egypt, were a proof; see ( 1 John 5:19 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (erb) "in malo", Montanus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Exodus 32:22 In-Context

20 Then he took the calf they had made, burned [it] up, and ground [it] to powder. He scattered [the powder] over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink [the water].

21 Then Moses asked Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have led them into [such] a grave sin?"

22 "Don't be enraged, my lord," Aaron replied. "You yourself know that the people are [intent] on evil.

23 They said to me, 'Make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt-we don't know what has happened to him!'

24 So I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, take it off,' and they gave [it] to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!"