The people (Aaron consenting) make and adore the image of a calf. 7. Which God revealing to Moyses, 11. he prayeth our Lord, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sake to spare the people, and perform his promise. 14. Wherewith God is pacified. 15. Yet Moyses coming from the Mount, and seeing the calf, and idolatry, throweth down the tables and breaketh them, 20. destroyeth the idol, 21. blameth Aaron, 27. causeth many Idolaters to be slain, 31. and again prayeth for the people.The people (Aaron consenting) make & adore the image of a calfe. 7. Which God reuealing to Moyses, 11. he praieth our Lord, for Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob sake to spare the people, and performe his promise. 14. Wherewith God is pacified. 15. Yet Moyses coming from the Mount, and seeing the calfe, and idolatrie, throweth downe the tables and breaketh them, 20. destroyeth the idol, 21. blameth Aaron, 27. causeth manie Idolaters to be slaine, 31. and againe praieth for the people.
And the people seeing that Moyses made tarriance ere he came down from the mount, being assembled against Aaron, they said: Arise, make us gods, that may go before us: for what hath chanced to this Moyses the man that brought us out of the Land of Egypt, we know not.AND the people seeing that Moyses made tarriance ere he came downe from the mount, being assembled against Aaron, they sayd: Arise, make vs goddes, that may go before vs: for what hath chanced to this Moyses the man that brought vs out of the Land of Ægypt, we know not.Videns autem populus quod moram faceret descendendi de monte Moyses, congregatus adversus Aaron, dixit : Surge, fac nobis deos, qui nos præcedant : Moysi enim huic viro, qui nos eduxit de terra Ægypti, ignoramus quid acciderit.
2And Aaron said to them: Take the golden earlets from the ears of your wives, and sons, and daughters, and bring them to me.And Aaron sayd to them: Take the golden earlets from the eares of your wiues, and sonnes, and daughters, & bring them to me.Dixitque ad eos Aaron : Tollite inaures aureas de uxorum, filiorumque et filiarum vestrarum auribus, et afferte ad me.
3And the people did that he had commanded, bringing the earlets to Aaron.And the people did that he had commanded, bringing the earlets to Aaron.Fecitque populus quæ jusserat, deferens inaures ad Aaron.
4Which when he had received, he formed them by founders work, and made of them a molten calf. And they said: These are thy gods Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.Which when he had receiued, he formed them by founders worke, and made of them a molten calfe. And they sayd: These are thy goddes Israel, that haue brought thee out of the land of Ægypt.Quas cum ille accepisset, formavit opere fusorio, et fecit ex eis vitulum conflatilem : dixeruntque : Hi sunt dii tui Israël, qui te eduxerunt de terra Ægypti.
5Which when Aaron had seen, he builded an altar before it, and by a crier's voice proclaimed saying: To morrow is the solemnity of the Lord.Which when Aaron had seen, he builded an altar before it, and by a criers voyce proclaimed saying: To morow is the solemnitie of the Lord.Quod cum vidisset Aaron, ædificavit altare coram eo, et præconis voce clamavit dicens : Cras solemnitas Domini est.
6And rising in the morning, they offered whole burnt-offerings · Vulgate: holocausta, and pacifique peace offerings · Vulgate: hostias pacificas, and the people sate down to eat, and to drink, and they rose up to play.And rising in the morning, they offered holocaustes, and pacifique hostes, and the people sate downe to eate, and to drinke, and they rose vp to play.Surgentesque mane, obtulerunt holocausta, et hostias pacificas, et sedit populus manducare, et bibere, et surrexerunt ludere.
7And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: Go, get thee down: thy people, which thou hast brought out of the Land of Egypt, hath sinned.And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying: Go, get thee downe: thy people, which thou hast brought out of the Land of Ægypt, hath sinned.Locutus est autem Dominus ad Moysen, dicens : Vade, descende : peccavit populus tuus, quem eduxisti de terra Ægypti.
8They have quickly revolted from the way that thou didst shew them: and they have made to themselves a molten calf, and have adored, and immolating hosts unto it, have said: These are thy gods Israel, that have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt.They haue quickly reuolted from the way that thou didst shew them: and they haue made to themselues a molten calfe, and haue adored, and immolating hostes vnto it, haue sayd: These are thy goddes Israel, that haue brought thee out of the Land of Ægypt.Recesserunt cito de via, quam ostendisti eis : feceruntque sibi vitulum conflatilem, et adoraverunt, atque immolantes ei hostias, dixerunt : Isti sunt dii tui Israël, qui te eduxerunt de terra Ægypti.
9And again our Lord said to Moyses: I see that this people is stiff-necked:And againe our Lord sayd to Moyses: I see that this people is stiffe-necked:Rursumque ait Dominus ad Moysen : Cerno quod populus iste duræ cervicis sit :
10suffer me, that my fury may be angry against them, and that I may destroy them, and I will make thee into a great nation.suffer me, that my furie may be angrie against them, & that I may destroy them, and I wil make thee into a great nation.dimitte me, ut irascatur furor meus contra eos, et deleam eos, faciamque te in gentem magnam.
11But Moyses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why Lord, is thy fury angry against thy people, whom thou hast brought forth of the Land of Egypt, in great power, and in a strong hand?But Moyses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why Lord, is thy furie angrie against thy people, whom thou hast brought forth of the Land of Ægypt, in great power, and in a strong hand?Moyses autem orabat Dominum Deum suum, dicens : Cur, Domine, irascitur furor tuus contra populum tuum, quem eduxisti de terra Ægypti, in fortitudine magna, et in manu robusta ?
12Let not the Egyptians say I beseech thee: He hath craftily brought them forth, that he might kill them in the mountains, and destroy them from the earth: let thine anger cease, and be pacified upon the wickedness of thy people.Let not the Ægyptians say I beseech thee: He hath craftily brought them forth, that he might kil them in the mountaines, and destroy them from the earth: let thine anger cease, and be pacified vpon the wickednes of thy people.Ne quæso dicant Ægyptii : Callide eduxit eos, ut interficeret in montibus, et deleret e terra : quiescat ira tua, et esto placabilis super nequitia populi tui.
13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, saying: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven: and this whole land, whereof I have spoken, I will give to your seed, and you shall possess it always.Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel thy seruants, to whom thou swarest by thine owne self, saying: I wil multiplie your seed as the starres of heauen: and this whole land, wherof I haue spoken, I wil giue to your seed, & you shal possesse it alwayes.Recordare Abraham, Isaac, et Israël servorum tuorum, quibus jurasti per temetipsum, dicens : Multiplicabo semen vestrum sicut stellas cæli ; et universam terram hanc, de qua locutus sum, dabo semini vestro, et possidebitis eam semper.
14And our Lord was pacified from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people.And our Lord was pacified from doing the euil which he had spoken against his people.Placatusque est Dominus ne faceret malum quod locutus fuerat adversus populum suum.
15And Moyses returned from the mount, carrying the two tables of testimony in his hand, written on both sides,And Moyses returned from the mount, carying the two tables of testimonie in his hand, written on both sides,Et reversus est Moyses de monte, portans duas tabulas testimonii in manu sua, scriptas ex utraque parte,
16and made by the work of God: the writing also of God was graven in the tables.and made by the worke of God: the writing also of God was grauen in the tables.et factas opere Dei : scriptura quoque Dei erat sculpta in tabulis.
17And Josue hearing the tumult of the people crying out, said to Moyses: The noise of battle is heard in the camp.And Iosue hearing the tumult of the people crying out, sayd to Moyses: The noise of battail is heard in the campe.Audiens autem Josue tumultum populi vociferantis, dixit ad Moysen : Ululatus pugnæ auditur in castris.
18Who answered: It is not the cry of men encouraging of fight, nor the shout of men compelling to flee: but I do hear the voice of singers.Who answered: It is not the crie of men encouraging of fight, nor the shout of men compelling to flie: but I do heare the voice of singers.Qui respondit : Non est clamor adhortantium ad pugnam, neque vociferatio compellentium ad fugam : sed vocem cantantium ego audio.
19And when he approached to the camp, he saw the calf, and the dances: and being very wroth, he threw the tables out of his hand, and brake them at the foot of the mount.And when he approched to the campe, he saw the calfe, and the daunces: and being very wrath, he threw the tables out of his hand, and brake them at the foote of the mount.Cumque appropinquasset ad castra, vidit vitulum, et choros : iratusque valde, projecit de manu tabulas, et confregit eas ad radicem montis :
20And catching the calf which they had made, he burnt it, and beat it into powder, which he strawed into water, and gave thereof drink to the children of Israel.And catching the calfe which they had made, he burnt it, & beat it into powder, which he strawed into water, and gaue therof drinke to the children of Israel.arripiensque vitulum quem fecerant, combussit, et contrivit usque ad pulverem, quem sparsit in aquam, et dedit ex eo potum filiis Israël.
21And he said to Aaron: What hath this people done to thee, that thou shouldest bring upon them an heinous sin?And he sayd to Aaron: What hath this people done to thee, that thou shouldest bring vpon them an heinous sinne?Dixitque ad Aaron : Quid tibi fecit hic populus, ut induceres super eum peccatum maximum ?
22To whom he answered: Let not my Lord be offended for thou knowest this people, that it is prone to evil:To whom he answered: Let not my Lord be offended for thou knowest this people, that it is prone to euil:Cui ille respondit : Ne indignetur dominus meus : tu enim nosti populum istum, quod pronus sit ad malum :
23they said to me: Make us gods, that may go before us: for unto this same Moyses, that brought us forth out of the Land of Egypt, we know not what is chanced.they sayd to me: Make vs goddes, that may go before vs: for vnto this same Moyses, that brought vs forth out of the Land of Ægypt, we know not what is chanced.dixerunt mihi : Fac nobis deos, qui nos præcedant : huic enim Moysi, qui nos eduxit de terra Ægypti, nescimus quid acciderit.
24To whom I said: Which of you hath gold? They took, and brought to me: and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came forth.To whom I sayd: Which of you hath gold? They tooke, & brought to me: & I cast it into the fire, and this calfe came forth.Quibus ego dixi : Quis vestrum habet aurum ? Tulerunt, et dederunt mihi : et projeci illud in ignem, egressusque est hic vitulus.
25Moyses therefore seeing the people that they were made naked (for Aaron had spoiled them for the ignominy of filth, and had set them naked among their enemies).Moyses therefore seeing the people that they were made naked (for Aaron had spoiled them for the ignominie of filth, & had set them naked among their enemies).Videns ergo Moyses populum quod esset nudatus (spoliaverat enim eum Aaron propter ignominiam sordis, et inter hostes nudum constituerat),
26and standing in the gate of the camp, he said: If any man be our Lords, let him join to me. And there gathered unto him all the sons of Levi:& standing in the gate of the campe, he sayd: If anie man be our Lords, let him ioyne to me. And there gathered vnto him al the sonnes of Leui:et stans in porta castrorum, ait : Si quis est Domini, jungatur mihi. Congregatique sunt ad eum omnes filii Levi :
27to whom he said: This saith the Lord God of Israel: Put every man his sword upon his thigh: go, and return from gate to gate through the middes of the camp, and every man kill his brother, and friend, and neighbour.to whom he sayd: This saith the Lord God of Israel: Put euery man his sword vpon his thigh: go, and returne from gate to gate through the middes of the campe, and euery man kil his brother, and frend, and neighbour.quibus ait : Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israël : Ponat vir gladium super femur suum : ite, et redite de porta usque ad portam per medium castrorum, et occidat unusquisque fratrem, et amicum, et proximum suum.
28And the sons of Levi did according to the saying of Moyses, and there were slain in that day about three and twenty thousand men.And the sonnes of Leui did according to the saying of Moyses, and there were slaine in that day about three and twentie thousand men.Feceruntque filii Levi juxta sermonem Moysi, cecideruntque in die illa quasi viginti tria millia hominum.
29And Moyses said: You have consecrated your hands this day to our Lord, every man in his son and in his brother, that blessing may be given to you.And Moyses sayd: You haue consecrated your handes this day to our Lord, euery man in his sonne & in his brother, that blessing may be giuen to you.Et ait Moyses : Consecrastis manus vestras hodie Domino, unusquisque in filio, et in fratre suo, ut detur vobis benedictio.
30And when the next day was come, Moyses spake to the people: You have sinned a very great sin: I will go up to our Lord, if by any means I may be able to entreat him for your sinful fact.And when the next day was come, Moyses spake to the people: You haue sinned a verie great sinne: I wil go vp to our Lord, if by anie meanes I may be able to intreat him for your sinful fact.Facto autem altero die, locutus est Moyses ad populum : Peccastis peccatum maximum : ascendam ad Dominum, si quomodo quivero eum deprecari pro scelere vestro.
31And returning to our Lord, he said: I beseech thee, this people hath sinned a heinous sin, and they have made to themselves gods of gold; either forgive them this trespass,And returning to our Lord, he sayd: I beseech thee, this people hath sinned a heinous sinne, and they haue made to themselues goddes of gold; either forgiue them this trespasse,Reversusque ad Dominum, ait : Obsecro, peccavit populus iste peccatum maximum, feceruntque sibi deos aureos : aut dimitte eis hanc noxam,
32or if thou do not, strike me out of the book that thou hast written.or if thou doe not, strike me out of the booke that thou hast written.aut si non facis, dele me de libro tuo quem scripsisti.
33To whom our Lord answered: He that hath sinned to me, him will I strike out of my book:To whom our Lord answered: He that hath sinned to me, him wil I strike out of my booke:Cui respondit Dominus : Qui peccaverit mihi, delebo eum de libro meo :
34but go thou, and lead this people whither I have told thee: mine Angel shall go before thee. And I in the day of revenge will visit this sin also of theirs.but go thou, and leade this people whither I haue told thee: mine Angel shal go before thee. And I in the day of reuenge wil visite this sinne also of theirs.tu autem vade, et duc populum istum quo locutus sum tibi : angelus meus præcedet te. Ego autem in die ultionis visitabo et hoc peccatum eorum.
35Our Lord therefore smote the people for the fault concerning the calf, which Aaron had made.Our Lord therefore smote the people for the fault concerning the calfe, which Aaron had made.Percussit ergo Dominus populum pro reatu vituli, quem fecerat Aaron.
Annotations
32:4A molten calf. No other reason can be imagined, why the people falling to idolatry, required the image of a calf, rather than of any other thing, but for that they thought the black calf with white spots, called Apis or Serapis, whom they saw the Egyptians esteemed most of all their gods, to be the chief, or only God. And therefore to this famous Idol they ascribed the benefit of their deliverie from bondage, saying: These are thy gods, o Israel, that have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt. So they meant not to worship our Lord, the true God, in that image, as Calvin would have it, but the very calf whose image it was, for adoring immediately the calfs image, and immolating hosts to it (v. 8.) they protested that to be their God, which the image represented. This appeareth also Deut. 32. v. 18. God that begat thee thou hast forsaken: and hast forgotten our Lord thy creator. And Psal. 105. v. 21. They forgat God, which saved them.
32:11Moyses besought. Albeit Moyses with most humble submission prayed for the people, which God so accepted, that he was thereby pacified (v. 14.) yet Calvin here condemneth him of arrogancy, and pride, as though he imperiously prescribed law to God, spoiling him of his justice. Much otherwise St. Jerome (Epist. 12. ad Gaudent.) commending his fervent charity, doubteth not to say: Dei potentiam serui preces impediebant. The servants prayers hindered Gods power, because God himself saying, suffer me, that my fury may be angry against them, and that I may destroy them, sheweth his divine providence to be such, as he might be stayed from doing that which he threatened.
32:13Remember Abraham. It much troubled Calvin, that for obtaining pardon for the people, the Patriarchs are mentioned, for whose sake and merits, mercy and protection was promised by God (Gen. 18. 22. 26.) prophesied by Jacob (Gen. 48.) performed here, and in many other places. And it is a vain evasion to say: God shewed his mercy for his promise sake only; for he promised the same for their merits; as appeareth in the places alleged: Though all merits proceed from Gods grace, first given without merits, 1. Cor. 4. v. 7. St. Augustine de grat. and lib. arb. c. 6.