Exodus 32:16-26

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

17 When Yehoshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moshe, "There is the noise of war in the camp."

18 He said, "It isn't the voice of those who shout for victory, neither is it the voice of those who cry for being overcome; but the noise of those who sing that I hear."

19 It happened, as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing: and Moshe' anger grew hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mountain.

20 He took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Yisra'el drink of it.

21 Moshe said to Aharon, "What did this people to you, that you have brought a great sin on them?"

22 Aharon said, "Don't let the anger of my lord grow hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.

23 For they said to me, 'Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moshe, the man who brought us up out of the land of Mitzrayim, we don't know what has become of him.'

24 I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them take it off:' so they gave it me; and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

25 When Moshe saw that the people had broken loose, (for Aharon had let them loose for a derision among their enemies,)

26 then Moshe stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on the LORD's side, come to me!" All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

Exodus 32:16-26 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.