The Golden Calf

The biblical account of the episode of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32 is a poignant illustration of Israel's breaking its covenant with God, a glimpse of the breadth of God's wrath (which would have resulted in the destruction of the people), Moses' intercession on behalf of the nation, and a reconciliation of God's chosen people with Him. It is but one of many biblical incidents which demonstrate the continuing presence of Adam's sin in the lives of God's people and how that sin seeks to separate man from God, and it is further proof that God remains faithful to His covenant with Abraham to confer a special privilege upon the Hebrew people among all others whom He has created.

In constructing this paper, which will recount the story of the Golden Calf, examine the sin associated with its molding, and review the effects which were felt by Moses and the people, it will be of value to draw insights from a comparison of a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish source material. This includes biblical translations and exegetical commentaries as well as some rabbinic and Midrashic literature.

On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone forth from the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai. Having journeyed from Rephidim, they entered the wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the wilderness. Israel encamped there in front of the mountain . . . .

In this first encampment at Sinai, Moses was drawn into God

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tzsch observe that even if the activity of the people were a harking back to their time in Egypt, it does not constitute proof that in their hearts they were not worshipping the Lord. Nachshoni cites Kuzari (1:37) as an explanation that the Golden Calf merely represented a "special place where [the Israelites] could focus their prayers and concentrate on serving Hashem." This will be covered more thoroughly in the conclusion to this paper. As God concludes His business with Moses, He reveals the apostasy of the people: "Go, get thee down, for thy people have dealt corruptly . . . . They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I have commanded them; they have made them a molten calf." Weissman depicts a more spirited discussion between Moses and the Lord: Hashem censured Moshe, saying, "When the Bnai Yisrael left Egypt, you wanted the airev rav to go along with them. I counseled against it, but you are good and modest and begged Me to accept them in spite of their unworthiness. Now this very airev rav have fabricated a Golden Calf and induced the Bnai Yisrael to sin!" "They might have made a Calf," answered Moshe, "but they certainly would not bow to it!" "They did," said Hashem. "Then they must ha

Category: Philosophy - T