Exodus 32:21
"What did this people do to you," Moses asked Aaron, "that you have led them into so great a sin?"
What did this people do to you
This phrase begins with Moses confronting Aaron, his brother, and the high priest, about the grave sin of idolatry that the Israelites have committed. The Hebrew word for "people" here is "עָם" (am), which often refers to a collective group bound by common identity or purpose. Moses' question implies a sense of incredulity and disappointment. He is seeking to understand what could have possibly driven Aaron to allow such a transgression. This reflects Moses' role as a leader who is deeply concerned with the spiritual well-being of his people. Historically, this moment is pivotal as it underscores the tension between leadership and accountability within the community of Israel.

Moses asked
Moses, the central figure in the Exodus narrative, is portrayed here as a mediator between God and the Israelites. His questioning of Aaron is not just a personal inquiry but a representation of divine justice seeking to understand human failure. The Hebrew root for "asked" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which can also mean to inquire or demand. This indicates that Moses is not merely curious but is demanding an explanation for the breach of covenant that has occurred. Moses' leadership is characterized by his direct communication with God and his responsibility to guide the people according to divine law.

that you have led them
The phrase "led them" is critical as it places responsibility on Aaron for the people's actions. The Hebrew verb "הֵבִיא" (hevi) suggests bringing or causing to come. Aaron's role as a leader is under scrutiny, highlighting the influence and responsibility leaders have over their followers. This moment serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor leadership and the ease with which people can be led astray when their leaders fail to uphold righteous standards.

into so great a sin?
The term "great" in Hebrew is "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), which emphasizes the severity of the sin committed. The "sin" referred to is the creation and worship of the golden calf, a direct violation of the first two commandments given by God. This act of idolatry is not just a minor transgression but a profound breach of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The historical context of this event is significant as it occurs shortly after the Israelites have received the law at Mount Sinai, making their sin even more grievous. This phrase serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which God views idolatry and the importance of faithfulness to His commandments.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt. In this passage, Moses confronts Aaron about the sin of idolatry.

2. Aaron
Moses' brother and the first high priest of Israel. He was left in charge while Moses was on Mount Sinai and played a key role in the creation of the golden calf.

3. The Israelites
The people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt. They quickly turned to idolatry when they felt abandoned by Moses.

4. Mount Sinai
The mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. It is a place of divine revelation and covenant.

5. The Golden Calf
An idol made by Aaron at the request of the Israelites, representing a significant breach of the covenant with God.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Impatience
The Israelites' impatience led them to sin. We must learn to wait on God's timing and trust His plans.

Leadership Accountability
Aaron's failure as a leader shows the importance of standing firm in faith, even under pressure.

The Consequences of Idolatry
Idolatry leads to separation from God. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry.

The Role of Intercession
Moses' intercession for the people demonstrates the power and necessity of prayer in seeking God's mercy.

Repentance and Restoration
Despite their sin, the Israelites had the opportunity to repent. God's grace allows for restoration when we turn back to Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from Moses' confrontation with Aaron about addressing sin within our communities?

2. How does the impatience of the Israelites reflect our own struggles with waiting on God's timing in our lives?

3. In what ways might we be tempted to create "golden calves" in our own lives, and how can we guard against this?

4. How does the role of Moses as an intercessor inspire us to pray for others who have strayed from their faith?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace and restoration after repentance. How can this experience encourage others in their faith journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20:3-4
The commandment against idolatry, which the Israelites violated by creating the golden calf.

Deuteronomy 9:16-21
Moses recounts the incident of the golden calf, emphasizing the gravity of the sin and his intercession for the people.

1 Corinthians 10:6-7
Paul warns the Corinthians against idolatry, using the example of the Israelites as a cautionary tale.

Acts 7:39-41
Stephen references the golden calf incident in his speech, highlighting the Israelites' rejection of God's leadership.
The Return of Moses to the CampJ. Orr Exodus 32:15-25
Judgment and MercyJ. Urquhart Exodus 32:15-35
People
Aaron, Egyptians, Isaac, Israelites, Joshua, Levi, Levites, Moses
Places
Egypt, Sinai
Topics
Aaron, Hast, Led, Sin
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 32:19-24

     4618   calf
     8822   self-justification

Exodus 32:21-24

     5072   Aaron, spokesman

Exodus 32:21-35

     4269   Sinai, Mount

Library
The Golden Calf
'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. 2. And 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. 3. And all the people brake off the golden
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Swift Decay of Love
'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. 16. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. 17. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines,
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

Threefold Repentance
'And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2. Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall he overthrown. 5. So the people of Ninoveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood
"That My covenant might be with Levi. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity."--MAL. ii. 4-6. ISRAEL was meant by God to be a nation of priests. In the first making of the Covenant this was distinctly stipulated. "If ye will obey My voice, and keep My covenant,
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

How those who Use Food Intemperately and those who Use it Sparingly are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 20.) Differently to be admonished are the gluttonous and the abstinent. For superfluity of speech, levity of conduct, and lechery accompany the former; but the latter often the sin of impatience, and often that of pride. For were it not the case that immoderate loquacity carries away the gluttonous, that rich man who is said to have fared sumptuously every day would not burn more sorely than elsewhere in his tongue, saying, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Seasons of Covenanting.
The duty is never unsuitable. Men have frequently, improperly esteemed the exercise as one that should be had recourse to, only on some great emergency. But as it is sinful to defer religious exercises till affliction, presenting the prospect of death, constrain to attempt them, so it is wrong to imagine, that the pressure of calamity principally should constrain to make solemn vows. The exercise of personal Covenanting should be practised habitually. The patriot is a patriot still; and the covenanter
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Letter xxii (Circa A. D. 1129) to Simon, Abbot of S. Nicholas
To Simon, Abbot of S. Nicholas Bernard consoles him under the persecution of which he is the object. The most pious endeavours do not always have the desired success. What line of conduct ought to be followed towards his inferiors by a prelate who is desirous of stricter discipline. 1. I have learned with much pain by your letter the persecution that you are enduring for the sake of righteousness, and although the consolation given you by Christ in the promise of His kingdom may suffice amply for
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Instruction for the Ignorant:
BEING A SALVE TO CURE THAT GREAT WANT OF KNOWLEDGE, WHICH SO MUCH REIGNS BOTH IN YOUNG AND OLD. PREPARED AND PRESENTED TO THEM IN A PLAIN AND EASY DIALOGUE, FITTED TO THE CAPACITY OF THE WEAKEST. 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.'--Hosea 4:6 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This little catechism is upon a plan perfectly new and unique. It was first published as a pocket volume in 1675, and has been republished in every collection of the author's works; and recently in a separate tract.
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
PHILIPPIANS iv. 1-9 Euodia and Syntyche--Conditions to unanimity--Great uses of small occasions--Connexion to the paragraphs--The fortress and the sentinel--A golden chain of truths--Joy in the Lord--Yieldingness--Prayer in everything--Activities of a heart at rest Ver. 1. +So, my brethren beloved and longed for+, missed indeed, at this long distance from you, +my joy and crown+ of victory (stephanos), +thus+, as having such certainties and such aims, with such a Saviour, and looking for such
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

How those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 23.) Differently to be admonished are those that are at variance and those that are at peace. For those that are at variance are to be admonished to know most certainly that, in whatever virtues they may abound, they can by no means become spiritual if they neglect becoming united to their neighbours by concord. For it is written, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (Gal. v. 22). He then that has no care to keep peace refuses to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Hence Paul
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Moses the Type of Christ.
"The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken."--Deut. xviii. 15. The history of Moses is valuable to Christians, not only as giving us a pattern of fidelity towards God, of great firmness, and great meekness, but also as affording us a type or figure of our Saviour Christ. No prophet arose in Israel like Moses, till Christ came, when the promise in the text was fulfilled--"The Lord thy God," says Moses, "shall
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
or, Gospel Light Fetched out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Let us More Easily into the Glory of New Testament Truths. 'Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Isreal;--shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out hereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof.'--Ezekiel 43:10, 11 London: Printed for, and sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgate,
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
Now the sanctifying of the Sabbath consists in two things--First, In resting from all servile and common business pertaining to our natural life; Secondly, In consecrating that rest wholly to the service of God, and the use of those holy means which belong to our spiritual life. For the First. 1. The servile and common works from which we are to cease are, generally, all civil works, from the least to the greatest (Exod. xxxi. 12, 13, 15, &c.) More particularly-- First, From all the works of our
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
The first important part of the Old Testament put together as a whole was the Pentateuch, or rather, the five books of Moses and Joshua. This was preceded by smaller documents, which one or more redactors embodied in it. The earliest things committed to writing were probably the ten words proceeding from Moses himself, afterwards enlarged into the ten commandments which exist at present in two recensions (Exod. xx., Deut. v.) It is true that we have the oldest form of the decalogue from the Jehovist
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Exodus 32:21 NIV
Exodus 32:21 NLT
Exodus 32:21 ESV
Exodus 32:21 NASB
Exodus 32:21 KJV

Exodus 32:21 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Exodus 32:20
Top of Page
Top of Page