Exodus 32:21-29

21 And Moses said to Aaron, ¹“What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them? ”

22 And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. ²You know the people, that they are set on evil.

23 For ³they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. ’

24 So ⁴I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off. ’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf. ”

25 And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, ⁵to the derision of their enemies),

26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me. ” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.

27 And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you ⁶kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor. ’”

28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.

29 And Moses said, “Today you have been ⁷ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day. ”

Exodus 32:21-29 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. 32:21 [Gen. 20:9]
• 2. 32:22 [ch. 14:11; 15:24; 16:2, 20; 17:2, 4; 1 Sam. 15:24]
• 3. 32:23 ver. 1
• 4. 32:24 ver. 2-4
• 5. 32:25 [ver. 12]
• 6. 32:27 [Num. 25:5; Deut. 33:9]
• 7. 32:29 [Zech. 13:3; Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26]; See Num. 25:11-13; Deut. 13:6-10