Exodus 32:22

22 And Aaron said, "Let not the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are set on evil.

Exodus 32:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 32:22

And Aaron said, let not the anger of my lord wax hot
He addresses him in a very respectful manner, though his younger brother, being in a superior office, the chief ruler of the people, king in Jeshurun; and he perceived a violent emotion rising in him, great indignation in his countenance, and an high resentment of what was done, and therefore he entreats his patience to hear him, in a few words, what he had to say, and he begins with the well known character of the people:

thou knowest the people, that they [are] set on mischief;
or are "in wickedness" ^F17; wholly in it, and under the power and influence of it, given up to it, and bent upon it; and there was no restraining them from it; and he appeals to the knowledge of Moses himself for the truth of this, of which their several murmurings against him, since they came out of Egypt, were a proof; see ( 1 John 5:19 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (erb) "in malo", Montanus, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Exodus 32:22 In-Context

20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it upon the water, and made the people of Israel drink it.

21 And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought a great sin upon them?"

22 And Aaron said, "Let not the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are set on evil.

23 For they said to me, 'Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'

24 And I said to them, 'Let any who have gold take it off'; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and there came out this calf."