Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Exodus 32

Exo 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, 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.

make us gods

Acts 7:40.

Exo 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play

Cf. 1Co 10:7.

Exo 32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

thy people…have corrupted themselves

Deu 9:8-22.

Exo 32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them

This whole scene affords a striking contrast between law and grace. Cf. Moses' intercession with Christ's (John 17:1-26). Israel was a nation, under probation (Exodus 19:5, 6); believers under grace are a family, awaiting glory (John 20:17; Romans 5:1, 2). For them there is "an advocate with the Father," whose propitiatory sacrifice never loses efficacy (1 John 2:1, 2). Moses pleads a covenant (Exodus 32:13); Christ points to a sacrifice (John 17:4).

Exo 32:11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Bible prayers (O.T.). Exo 33:12. (Gen 15:2; Hab 3:1-16.)

Exo 32:12, 14 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people…And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

repent…repented

Scofield Zechariah 8:14, note.

Exo 32:16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

the tables were the work of God

Scofield Exodus 20:4, note.

the writing was the writing of God

Inspiration. Exo 34:1, 27, 28. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Exo 32:30 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; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

atonement

Scofield Exodus 29:33, note.

Exo 32:34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

Angel

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.