Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Exodus 32:24
A historical reference excerpt for this verse.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 I said unto them, whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off, etc.] That is, any ear rings of gold, let them loose or take them off their ears: so they gave [it] me; of their own accord, as if unasked by him, though he had bid them bring it to him, (<023202>Exodus 32:2): then I cast it into the fire; to melt it, but says nothing of the mould the melted gold was poured into: and there came out this calf; he speaks of it as if the gold became in the form of a calf without any design, or without using any methods to put it in this form; but that it was a matter of chance, or rather something preternatural and miraculous; he speaks of it as if it was alive, and came out of itself: and indeed the Jews represent it as done by magic art, and by the operation of Satan, and speak of it as coming out alive, bellowing and dancing; and the Targum of Jonathan is, “and I cast it into the fire, and Satan entered into the midst of it, and out of it came the likeness of this calf.” Aaron says not a word of his fashioning it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf; but Moses learned this elsewhere, and has recorded it. What Moses thought of this apology is not said; it could not be satisfactory to him: and it is certain the conduct of Aaron in this affair was displeasing to God; and it seemed as if he would have destroyed him, had not Moses prayed for him, (<050920>Deuteronomy 9:20).
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