Exodus 32

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 32

1¶ And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

2And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me.

3And all the people brake off the golden earrings which [were] in their ears, and brought [them] unto Aaron.

4And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

5And when Aaron saw [it], he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow [is] a feast to the LORD.

6And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

7¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted [themselves]:

8They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

9And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it [is] a stiffnecked people:

10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

11And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

12Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever.

14And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

15¶ And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony [were] in his hand: the tables [were] written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other [were] they written.

16And the tables [were] the work of God, and the writing [was] the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

17And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, [There is] a noise of war in the camp.

18And he said, [It is] not the voice of [them that] shout for mastery, neither [is it] the voice of [them that] cry for being overcome: [but] the noise of [them that] sing do I hear.

19And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

20And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt [it] in the fire, and ground [it] to powder, and strawed [it] upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink [of it].

21¶ And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

22And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they [are set] on mischief.

23For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

24And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break [it] off. So they gave [it] me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

25And when Moses saw that the people [were] naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] shame among their enemies:)

26Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who [is] on the LORD'S side? [let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

27And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

28And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

29For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

30¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

31And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

33And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

34Therefore now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

35And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The Israelites, impatient for Moses' return, compelled Aaron to fashion a molten calf, which they worshipped as their god. Upon descending Mount Sinai, Moses witnessed their idolatry, broke the divinely inscribed tables of the law, and destroyed the calf. He then commanded the Levites to execute about three thousand of the offenders, before interceding with the LORD for the people's great sin.

Medium Summary

While Moses was on Mount Sinai, the impatient Israelites pressured Aaron to create a golden calf, declaring it the god that brought them out of Egypt and offering sacrifices to it. The LORD revealed this corruption to Moses, expressing His wrath and intent to destroy the people, but Moses interceded, appealing to God's covenant and reputation. Descending with the two tables of the law, Moses' anger flared upon seeing the idolatry and dancing, causing him to break the tables at the mountain's foot. He then utterly destroyed the calf and confronted Aaron, who offered a weak defense. Moses called for those loyal to the LORD, and the sons of Levi responded, executing approximately three thousand men as a consequence of their sin. Afterward, Moses again ascended to the LORD, pleading for atonement for the people, though the LORD affirmed that only those who sinned against Him would be blotted from His book, and later plagued the people.

Long Summary

As Moses tarried on Mount Sinai, the children of Israel grew impatient, gathering before Aaron and demanding he make them gods to lead them. Aaron complied, collecting their golden earrings and fashioning a molten calf, which the people immediately declared to be their deliverer from Egypt, subsequently building an altar and proclaiming a feast to the LORD. The LORD, observing their swift corruption, informed Moses of their idolatry, branding them a "stiffnecked people" and threatening to consume them, offering to make a great nation of Moses instead. Moses, however, earnestly besought the LORD, appealing to His great power in bringing them out of Egypt, the potential reproach from the Egyptians, and His covenant sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. In response to Moses' fervent intercession, the LORD "repented of the evil" He had purposed against His people. Descending from the mount with the two tables of testimony, inscribed by the very hand of God, Moses and Joshua approached the camp, hearing the sounds of revelry. Upon witnessing the golden calf and the people's dancing, Moses' anger burned fiercely, causing him to cast down and break the sacred tables at the foot of the mountain. He then seized the calf, burned it, ground it to powder, scattered it upon the water, and made the Israelites drink of it. Moses confronted Aaron regarding the great sin he had brought upon the people, to which Aaron offered a defensive and evasive explanation, blaming the people's inherent wickedness. Observing the people's unrestrained and shameful state, Moses stood at the camp's gate, calling for those who were "on the LORD'S side." The sons of Levi gathered to him, and Moses commanded them to take their swords and slay their brethren, companions, and neighbours throughout the camp. Approximately three thousand men fell that day by the hand of the Levites, who thereby "consecrated" themselves to the LORD. On the morrow, Moses acknowledged the people's great sin and declared his intention to return to the LORD to make atonement for them. He pleaded with the LORD, even offering to be blotted out of God's book if their sin could be forgiven. The LORD affirmed that only those who sinned against Him would be blotted out, instructing Moses to lead the people with His Angel going before them, yet warning that He would visit their sin upon them in due time. Ultimately, the LORD plagued the people because of their making of the calf.

Core Concepts

  • IdolatryThe Israelites, impatient with Moses' absence, demanded Aaron create a visible god, leading to the fashioning and worship of a molten calf, a direct violation of God's commandments.
  • Divine Wrath and IntercessionThe LORD's fierce anger against the Israelites' sin prompted His intent to destroy them, but Moses' fervent and selfless intercession, appealing to God's covenant and reputation, averted immediate judgment.
  • Broken CovenantMoses' act of breaking the two tables of the law, divinely written, symbolized the Israelites' breaking of their covenant with God through their idolatry.
  • Consequences of SinThe chapter vividly illustrates the severe repercussions of the people's sin, including the plague, the execution of three thousand men by the Levites, and the LORD's promise of future visitation for their transgression.
  • Aaron's ComplicityAaron, despite being Moses' brother and a leader, yielded to the people's demands, fashioned the idol, and offered a weak justification for his actions, highlighting his significant role in the sin.
  • Levitical LoyaltyWhen Moses called for those on the LORD's side, the sons of Levi alone responded, demonstrating their loyalty to God and Moses by executing the idolaters, thereby consecrating themselves for future service.
  • Moses' Selfless AdvocacyMoses repeatedly demonstrated profound leadership and devotion by interceding for the rebellious people, even offering his own life to be blotted out of God's book for their sake.