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Exodus 32:19

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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 brake them beneath the mount.

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh {H7126} unto the camp {H4264}, that he saw {H7200} the calf {H5695}, and the dancing {H4246}: and Moses {H4872}' anger {H639} waxed hot {H2734}, and he cast {H7993} the tables {H3871} out of his hands {H3027}, and brake {H7665} them beneath {H8478} the mount {H2022}.

But the moment Moshe got near the camp, when he saw the calf and the dancing, his own anger blazed up. He threw down the tablets he had been holding and shattered them at the base of the mountain.

As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain.

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 brake them beneath the mount.

Commentary

Exodus 32:19 vividly depicts Moses' raw and righteous indignation upon witnessing the Israelites' profound betrayal at the foot of Mount Sinai. Having just descended from receiving the divine law, he is confronted with the shocking reality of their idolatry.

Context

This verse marks a pivotal moment following forty days and nights that Moses spent on Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments and detailed instructions for the tabernacle. During his prolonged absence, the impatient Israelites pressured Aaron to create a physical representation of their god, resulting in the infamous golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6). They then engaged in revelry and sacrifices, proclaiming, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." As Moses, accompanied by Joshua, approached the camp, the sounds of their celebration and the sight of their apostasy became unbearable.

Key Themes

  • The Gravity of Idolatry: The sight of the golden calf and the "dancing" (often associated with pagan worship and immorality) was a direct and egregious violation of the first two commandments God had just given: having no other gods before Him and not making graven images (Exodus 20:3-5). This act demonstrated Israel's astonishing spiritual infidelity.
  • Moses' Righteous Anger: Moses' "anger waxed hot" is not merely a personal fit of rage, but a reflection of God's own holy wrath against sin. His fury underscores the immense seriousness of the people's betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh. It was an appropriate and powerful response to such a blatant rejection of divine authority.
  • The Broken Covenant: Moses' act of casting down and breaking the stone "tables" (tablets) of the Law is a profound symbolic gesture. These tablets represented the solemn covenant between God and Israel, inscribed by God's own hand. Their destruction visually and dramatically signified that the people had already broken their side of the covenant through their idolatry, even before Moses could formally present it to them. Deuteronomy 9:17 offers Moses' later reflection on this moment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "anger waxed hot" comes from the Hebrew word charah (חָרָה), which literally means "to burn" or "to be kindled." It conveys an intense, fiery anger, often used in the Old Testament to describe God's own righteous indignation. The "tables" are luchot (לֻחֹת), referring to the two stone tablets inscribed with the commandments, emphasizing their divine origin and significance.

Practical Application

Exodus 32:19 serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of sin and the seriousness of breaking faith with God. While we may not worship physical golden calves today, this passage challenges us to consider what "idols" might occupy the supreme place in our hearts – whether it be money, power, possessions, relationships, or even self-indulgence. Moses' visceral reaction highlights that God's commands are not to be taken lightly and that disobedience has severe consequences, impacting our relationship with Him. This event calls us to constant vigilance against anything that would draw our hearts away from singular devotion to the Lord, reminding us of the importance of living in obedience to His unchanging word.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 9:16 (5 votes)

    And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, [and] had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.

  • Deuteronomy 9:17 (5 votes)

    And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

  • 2 Samuel 6:14 (2 votes)

    And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod.

  • Zechariah 11:14 (2 votes)

    Then I cut asunder mine other staff, [even] Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

  • Mark 3:5 (2 votes)

    And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched [it] out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

  • Mark 10:14 (2 votes)

    But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

  • Lamentations 5:15 (2 votes)

    The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.