Deuteronomy 9:20

20 And the LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him; and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.

Deuteronomy 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.

Deuteronomy 9:20 In-Context

18 Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin which you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure which the LORD bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened to me that time also.
20 And the LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him; and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
21 Then I took the sinful thing, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust; and I threw the dust of it into the brook that descended out of the mountain.
22 "At Tab'erah also, and at Massah, and at Kib'roth-hatta'avah, you provoked the LORD to wrath.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.