Bible Commentaries

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Exodus 32

Verse 1

delayed = put them to shame by his not coming down. Compare Psalms 44:7; Psalms 53:5; Psalms 119:3.

out of = from.

make us gods. The great sin of to-day (1 Corinthians 10:7, 1 Corinthians 10:11). Made now not of materials; but made by imagination; and worshipped by the senses.

man. Hebrew. "ish, App-14.

wot not = know not.

all = the greater part. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6.

them. The Ellipsis (App-6) should be supplied by the word "it ": i.e. the gold (Exodus 32:3).


Verse 4

calf. The chief Egyptian god, with which they were familiar in Egypt.

These be thy gods. Expounded in Nehemiah 9:18 as meaning "This is thy god". Compare Psalms 106:19-2.


Verse 5

a feast to the LORD. All done under cover of "religion".

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.


Verse 6

offered. Hebrew. "alah. See App-43.

burnt offerings. Hebrew, plural of "alah. See App-43. eat and to drink. Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6), i.e. to eat [the sacrifices] and to drink [the libations].

to play = to make sport. Compare Exodus 32:19. So 1 Corinthians 10:7. to dance: i, e. lasciviously. This was part of idolatrous worship.


Verse 7

the LORD [Hebrew. Jehovah. said. See note on Exodus 3:7, and cep. note on Exodus 6:10.

thy . . . thou. As though disowning them. Compare Moses" grand faith, in his reply, Exodus 32:11.


Verse 8

sacrificed. Hebrew. zaback App-43.


Verse 9

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6).


Verse 11

the LORD. Hebrew "the face of Jehovah": i.e. before, or in the presence of Jehovah.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Thy . . . Thou. This is the reply of Moses. He knows they were not "cast off" (Romans 11:2), but only "cast aside" (Romans 11:11) for a little moment. See notes on Romans 11:2, Romans 11:15.


Verse 12

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6).

mischief, or wrong-doing. Hebrew. r"a"a. App-44. repent. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6).

evil. Hebrew. r"a"a. App-44.


Verse 13

Israel. Not Jacob, because this is the language of highest faith.

swarest. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6). Compare Hebrews 6:13, Hebrews 6:17. Genesis 22:16-18.

as the stars. Figure of speech Paroemia (App-6).


Verse 14

thought to do. Hebrew which He spake of doing.


Verse 15

went down. Moses" fourth descent. See note on Exodus 19:3 (the fifth ascent was in Exodus 24:9),

the two tables. See on Exodus 31:18.


Verse 16

the tables . . . the tables. Figure of speech Epanadiplosis (App-6), emphasising the importance of the statement.

the writing . . the writing. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6. The two figures together greatly emphasising the verse as a whole; and, combined = another Figure of speech Anadiplosis (App-6), viz. "tables", "writings"-; -"writings", "tables "the solemn or important writing. See note on Exodus 17:14.


Verse 18

shout . . . cry . . . singular. The same word in Hebrew.


Verse 19

dancing. Compare Exodus 32:6. As in the worship of Apis.


Verse 20

burnt. A secret known to the Egyptians.

water. Compare Deuteronomy 9:2. Deuteronomy 17:6.

children = sons.


Verse 21

sin. Hebrew. chat"a. App-44.


Verse 22

are set: or, supply the Ellipsis "are ready for ""


Verse 23

man. Hebrew "ish, App-14.

wot = know.


Verse 26

Who . . . ? &c. Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6).

all. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6, i.e. all who had not joined in the idolatry. Compare Deuteronomy 33:9.


Verse 27

side = thigh.


Verse 28

children = sons.

three thousand men. These 3,000 were the "men" slain by "the sons of Levi. "The 23,000 of 1 Corinthians 10:8 includes those who died of the "plague" which followed. See verse Exodus 32:35, below.


Verse 29

Consecrate. See note on Exodus 28:4.


Verse 31

returned. Moses" fifth ascent. See note on Exodus 19:8.


Verse 32

sin = Figure of speech Aposiopesis (App-6), to emphasise the unspeakableness of the sin.

Thy book. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6). Compare Psalms 69:28. Isaiah 4:3.


Verse 33

him. Under the Law, the sinner blotted out: under grace, sin blotted out.


Verse 34

behold. A special reading (Severna Codex, App-34) has "and behold". See App-34.

Mine angel. Probably an inferior angel, not that of Exodus 23:20, Exodus 23:21.

when I visit. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6). Literally "when I visit I will visit". See note on Genesis 26:28 with Genesis 60:24, Genesis 60:25. This is to emphasise the fact that there is such a thing as postponed judgment. Compare Exodus 34:7. Numbers 14:33. Ezekiel 18:1-3. Matthew 23:32-36.


Verse 35

plagued. See note on Exodus 32:28 above.

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