Exodus 32:21-31

21 And Moses said to Aaron, What did this people to thee, that thou hast brought in on them the greatest sin? (And Moses said to Aaron, What did this people do to thee, so that thou hast brought in on them this very great sin?)
22 To whom he answered, My lord, be not thou wroth (My lord, do not thou be angry), for thou knowest this people, that it is inclined, either ready, to evil;
23 they said to me, Make thou gods to us, that shall go before us, for we wot not, what hath befallen to this Moses, that led us out of the land of Egypt. (they said to me, Make thou gods for us, that shall go before us, for we know not, what hath befallen this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt.)
24 To whom I said, Who of you hath gold? They took (And so they brought what they had), and gave (it) to me, and I casted it forth into the fire, and this calf went out.
25 Therefore Moses saw the people, that it was made bare; for Aaron had spoiled it for the shame of the filth(hood) of making of the idol, and he had made the people naked among (their) enemies. (And so Moses saw that the people were made bare; for Aaron had plundered them for the shame of the filthhood of the making of the idol, and he had made the people look foolish before their enemies.)
26 And Moses stood in the gate of the tents (And Moses stood at the gate of the tents, or of the camp), and said, If any man is of the Lord, be he joined to me; and all the sons of Levi were gathered to him.
27 To which he said, The Lord God of Israel saith these things, A man put his sword upon his hip, go ye, and turn ye again from gate unto gate by the middle of the tents, and each man slay his brother, his friend, and [his] neighbour, which consented to this idolatry. (To whom he said, The Lord God of Israel saith these things, Each man put his sword on his hip, and then go ye through the midst of the camp, from one gate to the other, and back again, and each man kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbour, yea, all who consented to this idolatry.)
28 And the sons of Levi did by the word of Moses, and as three thousand of men felled down in that day. (And the Levites obeyed Moses, and three thousand men fell down dead that day.)
29 And Moses said, Ye have hallowed your hands today to the Lord, each man in his son, and [his] brother, that blessing be given to you. (And Moses said, Today ye have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, each man against his son, and against his brother, and so a blessing hath been given to you.)
30 Soothly when the tother day was made, Moses spake to the people, (and said,) Ye have sinned the most sin (Ye have sinned this very great sin); I shall go up to the Lord, if in any manner I shall be able to beseech him for your felony.
31 And he turned again to the Lord, and said, Lord, I beseech thee, this people hath sinned a great sin, and they have made golden gods to them; (And he returned to the Lord, and said, Lord, I beseech thee, this people hath sinned a very great sin, and they have made gods out of gold for themselves;)

Exodus 32:21-31 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.