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to destroy them utterly, but only to punish them for this great sin.

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And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, which was burning, 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, that is, on 16 the inside of each, on the right hand and on the left. And the tables [were] the work of God, and the writing [was] the 17 writing of God, graven upon the tables. And when Joshua, who waited for Moses at the bottom of the mount, heard the poise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, 18 [There is] a noise of war in the camp. And he, that is, Mo ses, said, [It is] not the voice of [them that] shout for mastery, neither [is it] the voice of [them that] cry for being overcome: [but] the noise of [them that] sing do I hear.t

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And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and 20 brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt [it] in the fire, melted it down, and ground [it,] or filed it, to powder, and having mixed some other ingredients with it to make it swim, he strawed [it] upon the • water of the brook which came from the mountain, and made the children of Israel drink [of it,] to show them the vanity of such gods.

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REFLECTIONS.

may here observe the treachery of the human heart, and the unsteadiness of men's resolutions. When we read such a story as this, we may justly say, with surprise, Lord, what is man what a poor, feeble, unsteady creature! It was but a few weeks before, that they received the law, heard the voice of God, saying, Thou shalt make no graven images; and they solemnly promised, All that the Lord hath commanded will we do, and be obedient. They entered into a covenant with blood; they were supported, that very day, with manna; they saw the pillar of cloud and fire; and yet they fell into idolatry. If they had said, Choose us another governor,' (as Bp. HALL observes) it would have been a wicked, unthankful motion, and would have showed no respect to Moses' memory; but to say, Make us gods, was foolish and impious. How many gods would they have had! What sort of gods must those be, that could be made? A

* No doubt a most curious production, as being the immediate work of God.

He knew the true reason, but for a while concealed it, and said, It is a noise of them that sing. This was usual among the heathen, at festivals in honour of their deities.

Moses might justly be angry, but it is probable, that the breaking of the tables was done with deliberation and design, to show that the covenant between them and God was broken by their idolatry.

god to go before them, that could not stand alone! In such a stupid and senseless manner do men reason and talk, when they leave the worship of Jehovah. It was strange that Aaron should comply with their request; that he, who could stand before Pharaoh, and defy his threats, should so easily be drawn in. He should have resisted, strove, and prayed, yea, died, rather than have yielded. Who can promise himself freedom from sin and infirmity, when he sees Aaron, the saint of the Lord, so tamely yield to a wicked solicitation? Let us learn to cease from man; to cease from ourselves, and not be confident in our own resolutions; let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.

2. See the danger of partaking in other men's sins, and of a temper easily persuaded to do things contrary to the dictates of conscience this was the case with Aaron. Let no importunity prevail upon us to forfeit our innocence, or to join in wickedness. The fear of man is often a snare to good men, and perhaps it was the case here; it often leads men to do that, which would otherwise have appeared detestable. Let us therefore resist every temptation, keep ourselves pure, be no ways accessary to the guilt of others, through complaisance, timorousness, or any other cause. It will give but little ease, under present or future torments, to reflect that we have sinned to oblige others, or even for fear of suffering ourselves.

3. We may hence learn the efficacy of prayer: it cannot be more effectually expressed, and intimated, than here. Moses earnestly prayed; God, knowing that he would do so, says, v. 10. Let me alone but he was determined not to keep silence, nor give God any rest; and God suffered himself to be prevailed upon. See how proper it is to make intercession for all men ; what signal services we may do them; of what advantage it may be, to stand in the breach, as Moses did, for a sinful land. This is an encouragement to pray always, and not to faint. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Let us rejoice in the intercession which Christ continually makes for us; he is the mediator of a better covenant, and him the Father heareth always.

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CHAP. XXXII. 21, to the end.

The story of the golden calf continued.

ND Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, what great violence did they use, that thou hast brought so great sin upon them? this great offence against the God of Israel?

And Aaron made a poor excuse, and said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot thou knowest the people, that they

[are set] on mischief; they are an obstinate untractable peo23 ple, and there is no reclaiming them. For they said unto me, 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; they insisted on my doing 24 it, and spoke very disrepectfully of thee. And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break [it] off: I thought to make it very expensive to them, in hopes that they would not comply. But so it was that they gave [it] me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.*

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And when Moses saw that the people [were] naked, unarmed, intent upon their diversion, set at liberty from all restraint; (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] shame among their enemies, by appointing them to keep such a feast.) Thus they were at once deprived of their innocence, and of the favour and protection of God, and so might easily be surprised 26 by their enemies. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and there set up his standard in opposition to the golden calf, and said, Who [is] on the LORD's side? who will take God's part against idolatry and idolaters? [let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi, that is, the greatest part of them, 27 gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, fill your hand with your sword, as the original is, and execute the divine commission with impartiality and holy zeal for God, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour; slay the ringleaders, though they be your nearest relations. (Deut. 28 xxxiii. 9.) And the children of Levi who came to Moses did according to the word of Moses: accordingly the judgment was executed, and there fell of the people that day about three 29 thousand men, in the midst of idolatry and mirth. For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even ev. ery man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

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And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD again, to pray, and plead for you; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. He speaks doubtful31 ly, to rouse their fears and awaken their repentance. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, with great concern and horror, quite overwhelmed with grief and shame, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt, I pray thee, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast

A strange, senseless story. If Aaron meant by this, that others made it, it was not true, nor much to the purpose; for as a magistrate, he ought to have prevented it, and got encouraged them in it."

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written; if thou art determined to destroy Israel, let me die with them, blot my name out of thy book with theirs; for I cannot bear to survive them. This was a noble and heroic disposition.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book; I will punish none but the transgressors: I will spare the righteous, the inno34 cent, and the penitent. Therefore now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee, as I promised, ch. xxiii. 20. notwithstanding this their rebellion against me : nevertheless, in the day when I visit and punish them for other crimes, I will visit this their sin upon them, and they shall suffer more severe35 ly on account of it. And the LORD plagued the people with pestilence, or some other awful judgment, because they made the calf, which Aaron made."

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REFLECTIONS.

O W mean does guilt make a man appear, though otherwise he may be wise and good! What a poor figure does Aaron make! It was a sorry excuse that he offered; better he had said nothing; indeed he could scarce say any thing, even to palliate the crime. Let us avoid sin, and every appearance of evil; this will give us courage and joy. The greatest enmity which can be done to persons, is to lead them to sin, as Aaron did.

2. We may learn from the conduct of the Levites, to act impartially, when engaged in the cause of God. Moses speaks of it to their praise, in his final blessing, that they did not know their brethren, nor acknowledge their children, when they were commanded to execute divine vengeance. They did not make this a scene of private affection and partiality. Thus must we act in God's cause; do nothing from partiality; be ready, as they were, to appear on the Lord's side; and not be neuter, when the cause of truth and righteousness demands our regard. Let us espouse the Lord's interest against all who oppose it, be they ever so numerous; join on the Lord's side, though, as here, there may be very few that do so. Let us act an upright, honest part; consecrate ourselves to the service of God; then, whatever men say, and however they treat us, he will bestow a blessing upon us, as he did upon Levi. If we consecrate ourselves to God's service, he will consecrate us to special dignity; and make us kings and priests unto himself. His side will be victorious, and he will bountifully reward all those who espouse it.

Most of the ancient versions render it, because they received the calf which Aarot made; and this is probably the genuine meaning of the passage.

3. We must not conclude that guilt is forgiven, because the punishment of it is delayed, v. 34. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them. I shall be more ready to punish future transgressions, for it will be a great aggravation of their guilt, if, in any future instance, they offend against me. This is a necessary caution; for men are ready to think God forgets, because they do; and because sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. They think it will never be remembered, and they shall never be called to an account; but this is a dangerous mistake; Israel knew it to be so to their cost. They were so sensible of the malignity of this crime, that it was a common saying among them, in after ages,' There was no judgment came upon them, but was mixed with an ounce of the golden calf.' The modern Jews keep a yearly fast on that day, to entreat the divine favour. In a word, the great lesson to be learnt from the whole is, that we should watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation, for God is jealous of his honour, of his name, of the purity of his worship, and the observance of his commands: none ever hardened themselves against him and prospered.

CHAP. XXXIII.

The divine displeasure being still manifested against Israel, Moses successfully intercedes for them, and for himself.

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ND the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, [and] go up

A hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought

up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will 2 I give it: And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Cannanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the 3 Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for, though I will send my angel, as I promised, ch. xxiii. yet I will not go up in the midst of thee, in favour, and with a visible sign of my presence, (yet afterward he was entreated, v. 14.) for thou [art] a stiffnecked people : lest I consume thee in the way, if thou shouldst trespass again so abominably as in the matter of the golden calf: so that in the midst of judgment God remembered mercy.

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And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments, but used signs 5 of mourning and lamentation. For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye [are] a stiffnecked people; I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee, if thou repent not: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, humble thyself, and show fruits of

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