Wesley Corpus

The sin of Israel, and Aaron particularly in making the golden calf, ver. 1 - 4. and worshipping it, ver. 5, 6. The notice which God gave of this to Moses, who was now in the mount with him, ver. 7, 8. and the sentence of his wrath against them, ver. 9, 10. The intercession which Moses made for them, ver. 11, 12, 13. and the prevalency of that intercession, ver 14. His coming down from the mount, and being an eye witness of their idolatry, ver. 15 - 19. in detestation of which he broke the tables, ver. 19. and burnt the golden calf, ver. 20. The examination of Aaron about it, ver. 21 - 24. Execution done upon the ringleaders in the idolatry, ver. 25 - 29. The further intercession Moses made, to turn away the wrath of God from them, ver. 30 - 32. and a reprieve granted thereupon, reserving them for a further reckoning, ver. 33 - 35. Up, make us gods which shall go before us. They were weary of waiting for the promised land. They thought themselves detained too long at mount Sinai. They had a God that stayed with them, but they must have a God to go before them to the land flowing with milk and honey. They were weary of waiting for the return of Moses: As for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of Egypt, we know not what is become of him - Observe how slightly they speak of his person, this Moses: And how suspiciously of his delay, we know not what is become of him. And they were weary of waiting for a divine institution of religious worship among them, so they would have a worship of their own invention, probably such as they had seen among the Egyptians. They say, make us gods which shall go before us. Gods! How many would they have? Is not one sufficient? And what good would gods of their own making do them? They must have such Gods to go before them as could not go themselves farther than they were carried! And Aaron said break off the golden ear - rings - We do not find that he said one word to discountenance their proposal.