and he receiveth from their hand, and doth fashion it with a graving tool, and doth make it a molten calf, and they say, 'These thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.'Exodus 32:4 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleFashioned it with a graving tool - There has been much controversy about the meaning of the word חרט cheret in the text: some make it a mould, others a garment, cloth, or apron; some a purse or bag, and others a graver. It is likely that some mould was made on this occasion, that the gold when fused was cast into it, and that afterwards it was brought into form and symmetry by the action of the chisel and graver.
These be thy gods, O Israel - The whole of this is a most strange and unaccountable transaction. Was it possible that the people could have so soon lost sight of the wonderful manifestations of God upon the mount? Was it possible that Aaron could have imagined that he could make any god that could help them? And yet it does not appear that he ever remonstrated with the people! Possibly he only intended to make them some symbolical representation of the Divine power and energy, that might be as evident to them as the pillar of cloud and fire had been, and to which God might attach an always present energy and influence; or in requiring them to sacrifice their ornaments, he might have supposed they would have desisted from urging their request: but all this is mere conjecture, with very little probability to support it. It must however be granted that Aaron does not appear to have even designed a worship that should supersede the worship of The Most High; hence we find him making proclamation, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord, (יהוה); and we find farther that some of the proper rites of the true worship were observed on this occasion, for they brought burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, Exodus 32:6, Exodus 32:7 : hence it is evident he intended that the true God should be the object of their worship, though he permitted and even encouraged them to offer this worship through an idolatrous medium, the molten calf. It has been supposed that this was an exact resemblance of the famous Egyptian god Apis who was worshipped under the form of an ox, which worship the Israelites no doubt saw often practiced in Egypt. Some however think that this worship of Apis was not then established; but we have already had sufficient proof that different animals were sacred among the Egyptians, nor have we any account of any worship in Egypt earlier than that offered to Apis, under the figure of an Ox.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
fashioned
Exodus 20:23 You shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall you make to you gods of gold.
Deuteronomy 9:16 And I looked, and, behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf...
Psalm 106:19-21 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image...
Isaiah 44:9,10 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses...
Isaiah 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he makes it a god: they fall down, yes...
Acts 7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Acts 17:29 For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone...
a graving
Exodus 28:9,11 And you shall take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel...
calf
1 Kings 12:28,32 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem...
2 Kings 10:29 However, from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit...
2 Chronicles 11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
2 Chronicles 13:8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and you be a great multitude...
Hosea 8:4,5 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not...
Hosea 10:5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it...
Hosea 13:2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding...
these
Exodus 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it...
Judges 17:3,4 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said...
Nehemiah 9:18 Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt...
Isaiah 40:18,19 To whom then will you liken God? or what likeness will you compare to him...
Romans 1:21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations...
which brought
Exodus 32:1,8 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron...
Exodus 20:2 I am the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exodus 32:4 Parallel Commentaries
Calf Cast Chisel Egypt Engraving Fashion Fashioned Fashioning Gods Gold Graving Hammering Hand Handed Idol Image Instrument Israel Metal Molten Ox Received Receiveth Shape Tool YoungCalf Cast Chisel Egypt Engraving Fashion Fashioned Fashioning Gods Gold Graving Hammering Hand Handed Idol Image Instrument Israel Metal Molten Ox Received Receiveth Shape Tool YoungTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.Exodus 32:4 Mobile Bible
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