Exodus 32:27-35

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 ¹kill 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 ²ordained 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. ”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, ³“You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; ⁴perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. ”

31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, ⁵this people has sinned a great sin. They have ⁶made for themselves gods of gold.

32 But now, if ⁷you will forgive their sin—but if not, please ⁸blot me out of ⁹your book that you have written. ”

33 But the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰“Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

34 ¹¹But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; ¹²behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them. ”

35 Then the Lord sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

Exodus 32:27-35 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. 32:27 [Num. 25:5; Deut. 33:9]
• 2. 32:29 [Zech. 13:3; Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26]; See Num. 25:11-13; Deut. 13:6-10
• 3. 32:30 See ver. 21; [1 Sam. 12:20]
• 4. 32:30 2 Sam. 16:12; Amos 5:15
• 5. 32:31 [See ver. 30 above]
• 6. 32:31 ch. 20:23
• 7. 32:32 [Num. 14:19]
• 8. 32:32 [Rom. 9:3]
• 9. 32:32 Ps. 56:8; 69:28; 139:16; Dan. 12:1; Phil. 4:3
• 10. 32:33 Ezek. 18:4, 20
• 11. 32:34 ch. 33:12
• 12. 32:34 See ch. 14:19