John Gill's Exposition on Exodus 32:14

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.] He did not do what he threatened to do, and seemed to have in his thoughts and designs, but did what Moses desired he would, (<023212>Exodus 32:12) not that any of God’s thoughts or the determinations of his mind are alterable; for the thoughts of his heart are to all generations; but he changes the outward dispensations of his providence, or his methods of acting with men, which he has been taking or threatened to take; and this being similar to what they do when they repent of anything, who alter their course, hence repentance is ascribed to God, though, properly speaking, it does not belong to him, (see <241808>Jeremiah 18:8). Aben Ezra thinks that the above prayer of Moses, which was so prevalent with God, does not stand in its proper place, but should come after (<023231>Exodus 32:31) for, to what purpose, says he, should Moses say to the Israelites, (<023230>Exodus 32:30) “peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin”: if he was appeased by his prayer before?

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