Exodus 32:15-20

15 Then ¹Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the ²two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written.

16 ³The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.

17 When ⁴Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp. ”

18 But he said, “It is not the sound of ⁵shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear. ”

19 And as soon as he came near the camp and ⁶saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.

Exodus 32:15-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 32

This chapter gives an account of the idolatry of the Israelites making and worshipping a golden calf, Ex 32:1-6 the information of it God gave to Moses, bidding him at the same time not to make any suit in their favour, that he might consume them, and make a large nation out Moses's family, Ex 32:7-10 the intercession of Moses for them, in which he succeeded, Ex 32:11-14 his descent from the mount with the two tables in his hands, accompanied by Joshua, when he was an eyewitness of their idolatry, which raised his indignation, that he cast the two tables out of his hands and broke them, took the calf and burnt it, and ground it to powder, and made the children of Israel drink of it, Ex 32:15-20 the examination of Aaron about the fact, who excused himself, Ex 32:21-24 the orders given to the Levites, who joined themselves to Moses, to slay every man his brother, which they did to the number of 3000 men, Ex 32:25-29 another intercession for them by Moses, which gained a respite of them for a time, for they are threatened to be visited still for their sin, and they were plagued for it, Ex 32:30-35.

Cross References

• 1. 32:15 Deut. 9:15
• 2. 32:15 ch. 34:29
• 3. 32:16 ch. 31:18
• 4. 32:17 ch. 17:9, 10; 24:13; 33:11
• 5. 32:18 Jer. 51:14
• 6. 32:19 Deut. 9:16, 17, 21