Devarim 9:20

20 And Hashem was very angry with Aharon to have made him shmad; and I davened on behalf of Aharon also at that time.

Devarim 9:20 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:20

And the Lord was very angry with Aaron, to have destroyed him,
&c.] For complying with the request of the people in making a calf for them, and for that miserable shift he made to excuse himself; which so provoked the Lord, that he threatened to destroy him, and he was in danger of being cut off, had it not been for the intercession of Moses:

and I prayed for Aaron also the same time:
who either was included in the general prayer for the people, ( Exodus 32:31 ) or a particular prayer was made for him, though not recorded, and which also succeeded.

Devarim 9:20 In-Context

18 And I fell down before Hashem, as at the first, arba’im yom and arba’im lailah; I did neither eat lechem, nor drink mayim, because of kol chattatchem ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of Hashem, to provoke Him to anger.

19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith Hashem was angry against you to destroy you. But Hashem listened unto me at that time also.

20 And Hashem was very angry with Aharon to have made him shmad; and I davened on behalf of Aharon also at that time.

21 And I took your sin, the egel which ye had made, and burned it with eish, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust; and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

22 And at Taverah, and at Massah, and at Kivrot Hattaavah, ye provoked Hashem to wrath.