Whatever their reason, they were wrong.
And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'"
Exodus 32:6-8 (ESV)
The people ignored what they had seen and learned and decided to party. The idea of rising up to play indicates a party atmosphere where any type of amusement might be acceptable. (The word play: a primitive root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport: — laugh, mock, play, make sport.)
Perhaps this thing with Moses going up the mountain was too hard on the people. Maybe they were tired of all this serious stuff and wanted to break the tension, let loose, and party for a while. Maybe, they were tired of being told what to do by Aaron and Moses and wanted to lead themselves. No doubt much had changed since their days in Egypt, and perhaps they wanted to begin to enjoy life the way the Egyptians did, and Moses' absence gave the rabble-rousers a chance to sell their pagan lifestyle.
Whatever their reason, they were wrong, and would pay a tremendous price for their party.
Exodus 32:6-8 (ESV)
The people ignored what they had seen and learned and decided to party. The idea of rising up to play indicates a party atmosphere where any type of amusement might be acceptable. (The word play: a primitive root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport: — laugh, mock, play, make sport.)
Perhaps this thing with Moses going up the mountain was too hard on the people. Maybe they were tired of all this serious stuff and wanted to break the tension, let loose, and party for a while. Maybe, they were tired of being told what to do by Aaron and Moses and wanted to lead themselves. No doubt much had changed since their days in Egypt, and perhaps they wanted to begin to enjoy life the way the Egyptians did, and Moses' absence gave the rabble-rousers a chance to sell their pagan lifestyle.
Whatever their reason, they were wrong, and would pay a tremendous price for their party.
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