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Chapter 31
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Exodus, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
God’s Identity and Power
Redemption and Deliverance
The Covenant
Mediators and the Priesthood
Summary
Analysis
Meanwhile, the Israelites wait for Moses to come down the mountain. When Moses is delayed, the people go to Aaron and ask him to make gods for them. After all, they say, who knows what’s become of Moses? So Aaron tells the people to remove their gold jewelry and bring it to him. Aaron gathers and molds the gold into the image of a calf. Then he tells the Israelites that this is their god who brought them out of Egypt. The next day, the people hold a festival, offering sacrifices to the image and feasting and celebrating before it.
In between the instructions for the tabernacle and its actual building, this narrative section shows why the tabernacle is necessary: the people are prone to breaking their covenant with God and need a constant site on which to focus their worship. At this point, Moses has been on Mount Sinai for several weeks. Already inclined to forgetfulness and grumbling, the people decide they need a god closer to them whom they can see. It’s not clear why Aaron gives in to this demand so willingly, but it does make it clear why Moses is the leader and not him.
Themes
The LORD tells Moses to go down from the mountain immediately because the people are already turning aside from what he commanded them. God sees how stubborn the people are. His wrath burns against them, and he intends to destroy them, making a great nation from Moses alone. However, Moses argues with God. He points out that if God destroys the Israelites, the Egyptians will say that this was God’s intention all along. He begs God to remember his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God changes his mind.
When God is furious with the rebellious Israelites, Moses argues on the people’s behalf. He does so on the basis of what God himself had already promised—to deliver Israel from Egypt out of faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham, and to show that he is truly God. This also shows how much Moses has grown as a leader since God first addressed him from the burning bush. His faithfulness to God’s purposes echoes God’s own character. He also has no interest in becoming the head of his own dynasty, showing his humble nature.
Themes
Then Moses goes down the mountain, carrying the two tablets that God engraved. Moses and Joshua hear the noise of the people’s festival. When Moses reaches the camp and sees the people dancing around the golden calf, he throws down the tablets in anger. Then he burns the golden calf, grinds it to a powder, throws the powder into water, and makes the people drink the water.
The smashing of the two tablets is a dramatic visualization of the people’s breach of the covenant. The reason for consuming the powdered gold isn’t explained, but it’s definitely a punishment, and making the people digest the idol is also a good way of making sure that it's destroyed once and for all!
Themes
Moses asks Aaron why he permitted this to happen. Aaron tells Moses that the people were determined to do evil, and it wasn’t his fault. Moses stands at the gate of the camp and calls to the people, summoning those who are on the LORD’s side. Levi’s sons gather around him. Moses orders them to kill their brothers, friends, and neighbors with the sword. They obey, and about 3,000 people die. Moses tells Levi’s sons that by this act, they have ordained themselves for the LORD’s service.
In contrast to Moses, who speaks up on his people’s behalf and takes decisive action against the rebellious, Aaron immediately deflects blame, showing that ordained priests aren’t necessarily morally exemplary. God punishes the rebellious through the Levites. They are willing to turn against their own tribe, and this zeal for God qualifies them to serve as priests.
Themes
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The next day, Moses tells the people that they’ve sinned greatly, but he will attempt to make atonement for them. He returns to the LORD’s presence and says that if God will not forgive the people, then he should blot Moses himself out of the book of life. But the LORD refuses. He tells Moses to lead the people onward, and he will punish their sin later. Then he sends a plague on the people for making the golden calf.
Though a subset of people were killed for disobedience, all the Israelites bear guilt for the golden calf incident. Once again, Moses steps forward as the Israelites’ representative and tells God to condemn him instead of the people. (The phrase “book of life” shows up in both the Hebrew Bible and New Testament to refer to a divine record of those who will enjoy God’s blessings.) God heeds Moses, sending a lesser punishment instead.
Themes
