C. F. Keil and Franz Delitzsch on Exodus 32:21-24

Exo 32:21-24

After the calf had been destroyed, Moses called Aaron to account. “What has this people done to thee (“done” in a bad sense, as in Gen 27:45; Exo 13:11), that thou hast brought a great sin upon it?” Even if Aaron had merely acted from weakness in carrying out the will of the people, he was the most to blame, for not having resisted the urgent entreaty of the people firmly and with strong faith, and even at the cost of his life. Consequently he could think of nothing better than the pitiful subterfuge, “Be not angry, my lord (he addresses Moses in this way on account of his office, and because of his anger, cf. Num 12:11): thou knowest the people, that it is in wickedness” (cf. 1Jo 5:19), and the admission that he had been overcome by the urgency of the people, and had thrown the gold they handed him into the fire, and that this calf had come out (Exo 32:22-24), as if the image had come out of its own accord, without his intention or will. This excuse was so contemptible that Moses did not think it worthy of a reply, at the same time, as he told the people afterwards (Deu 9:20), he averted the great wrath of the Lord from him through his intercession.