Exodus 32:19-28

19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.

20 And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.

21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

22 “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.

23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’

24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.

26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

27 Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ”

28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.

Exodus 32:19-28 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. Deuteronomy 9:16
• 2. ver 6; 1 Corinthians 10:7
• 3. Ezra 9:3; Psalms 119:53,158
• 4. Exodus 34:1; Deuteronomy 9:17
• 5. Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 12:3; Joshua 7:1; 2 Kings 23:6; 1 Chronicles 14:12
• 6. 2 Chronicles 34:7; Micah 1:7
• 7. Deuteronomy 9:21
• 8. S Genesis 18:30
• 9. Deuteronomy 9:24; Deuteronomy 28:20; 2 Kings 21:15; Ezra 9:13; Nehemiah 9:28; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 44:3; Ezekiel 6:9
• 10. S ver 1; Acts 7:40
• 11. S ver 4
• 12. S Genesis 38:23
• 13. Numbers 25:3,5; Deuteronomy 33:9; Ezekiel 9:5