The Golden Calf

A god shaped by hands that could not bear to wait

Mount Sinai · 1446 BC · Ex 32:1–35

Story

Days went by, and still Moses did not come down from the mountain. The people, staring up at the cloud-covered summit, grew more and more uneasy. They crowded around Aaron. We do not know what has become of this man who brought us out of Egypt. Make us a god to go before us. Aaron collected their gold earrings, melted them down, shaped the gold with a carving tool and made a calf.

The people cried out. Israel, this is your god, who brought you out of Egypt. The next morning a feast was held before the altar. The people ate and drank, and got up to dance. At that very hour, on the mountain, the Lord in his anger said to Moses. Go down at once, your people have become corrupt. I will wipe them out. Moses fell down and pleaded. Remember the promise you made to Abraham, to Isaac and to Israel. And the Lord turned back from the disaster he had meant to bring.

Moses came down the mountain, holding the two stone tablets God himself had engraved. As he neared the camp he heard singing, and he saw the crowd circling the golden calf. Moses flung the tablets down and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. He burned the calf, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the people drink it. Then he went back up the mountain and spoke to the Lord. Forgive the sin of this people. And if you will not, then blot my name out of your book.

God's Words

Go down at once. Your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have turned so quickly from the way I commanded, casting a calf and bowing down to it.

These people have committed a great sin. Now please forgive their sin. But if not, then blot my name out of the book you have written.

They gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.

The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Ex 32:1–35

Background

Pause and Reflect