Reference: Calf Worship
Fausets
(See AARON.) The Israelites "in Egypt" had served the Egyptian idols (Jos 24:14), including the sacred living bulls Apis, Basis, and Mnevis, and sacred cows Isis and Athor; worshipped for their utility to man, and made symbols of the sun and Osiris. In fact Nature, not the personal Creator, God, was symbolized by the calf and worshipped. But Aaron's golden calf he expressly calls, "thy Elohim which brought thee up out of Egypt"; and the feast to it "a feast to Jehovah" (Ex 32:4-8,17-19). Israel too had just seen that "upon Egypt's gods Jehovah executed judgments" (Nu 33:4). What they yearned for therefore was not the vanquished Egyptian idols, but some visible symbol of the unseen Jehovah; the cherubic emblem, the calf or ox, furnished this. So Ps 106:20, "they changed their glory (i.e. God) into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass"; indeed the Egyptians used to offer a bottle of hay to Apis.
The rites of Mnevis' feast at Heliopolis, boisterous revelry, dancing, offerings, etc., which the Israelites were familiar with in Egypt, they transferred to Jehovah's calf image. Ac 7:40-41 marks this first stage of idolatry. The second more glaring stage surely followed: "God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven" (Ac 7:42-43). Jeroboam's calves, which his exile in Egypt familiarized him with, and which he subsequently set up at Dan and Bethel similarly, were not set up to oppose Jehovah's worship, but to oppose His worship by Jeroboam's subjects at Jerusalem, lest they should thereby be alienated from him (1Ki 12:26-29). It was notorious that it was Jehovah who delivered Israel out of Egypt; and, like Aaron, Jeroboam says of the calves, thereby identifying them with Jehovah, "Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of Egypt."
Jehu's worship of the calves is markedly distinguished from the Baal worship of Ahab which he overthrew (2Ki 10:18-29). Baal worship breaks the first commandment by having other gods besides Jehovah. The calf worship breaks the second by worshipping Jehovah with an image or symbol; Rome's sin in our days. Moreover, there was only one Apis, there were two calves answering to the two cherubim. Hence, this was the only idolatry into which Judah never fell. As having the original cherubim in the temple at Jerusalem, she did not need the copies at Dan and Bethel. The prophets of the calves regarded themselves as "prophets of Jehovah" (1Ki 22:5-6).
Hosea denounces the calf worship, and calls Bethel Bethaven, the house of vanity, instead of the house of God (Ho 8:5-6; 10:5-6). Kissing them was one mode of adoration (Ho 13:2); contrast God's command," Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and ye perish" (Ps 2:12). Tiglath Pileser carried away the calf at Daniel Shalmaneser, 10 years later, carried away that at Bethel (2Ki 15:29; 17:6). In Ho 14:2 we read "calves of our lips": instead of calves which we can no longer offer in our exile, we present praises of our lips; so Heb 13:15.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he will take from their hand, and will form it with a graver, and he will make it a molten calf: and they will say, These thy gods, Israel, who brought thee up from the land of Egypt
And he will take from their hand, and will form it with a graver, and he will make it a molten calf: and they will say, These thy gods, Israel, who brought thee up from the land of Egypt And Aaron will see, and he will build an altar before it; and Aaron will call and say, A festival to Jehovah tomorrow.
And Aaron will see, and he will build an altar before it; and Aaron will call and say, A festival to Jehovah tomorrow. And they will rise early early on the morrow, and they will raise up a burnt-offering, and they will bring near peace; and the people will sit down to eat and drink, and they will rise up to play.
And they will rise early early on the morrow, and they will raise up a burnt-offering, and they will bring near peace; and the people will sit down to eat and drink, and they will rise up to play. And Jehovah will speak to Moses, Go, descend: for thy people were corrupted whom thou didst bring up out of the land of Egypt
And Jehovah will speak to Moses, Go, descend: for thy people were corrupted whom thou didst bring up out of the land of Egypt For they turned aside quickly from the way which I commanded them: they made for them a molten calf, and worship to it, and will sacrifice to it, and will say, These thy gods, Israel, which raised thee up out of the land of Egypt
For they turned aside quickly from the way which I commanded them: they made for them a molten calf, and worship to it, and will sacrifice to it, and will say, These thy gods, Israel, which raised thee up out of the land of Egypt
And Joshua will hear the voice of the people in making a loud noise, and he will say to Moses, A voice of war in the camp.
And Joshua will hear the voice of the people in making a loud noise, and he will say to Moses, A voice of war in the camp. And he will say, Not the voice of the shouting of victory, and not the voice of the shouting of defeat: the voice of shouting I heard.
And he will say, Not the voice of the shouting of victory, and not the voice of the shouting of defeat: the voice of shouting I heard. And it will be when he drew near to the camp, and he will see the calf and the lute: and the wrath of Moses will kindle, and he will cast the tables out of his hand, and he will break them under the mount
And it will be when he drew near to the camp, and he will see the calf and the lute: and the wrath of Moses will kindle, and he will cast the tables out of his hand, and he will break them under the mount
And the Egyptians burying whom Jehovah smote among them, all the first-born: and upon their gods Jehovah did judgments.
And the Egyptians burying whom Jehovah smote among them, all the first-born: and upon their gods Jehovah did judgments.
And, now fear ye Jehovah and serve him in uprightness and in truth; and remove the gods which your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.
And, now fear ye Jehovah and serve him in uprightness and in truth; and remove the gods which your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.
And Jeroboam will say in his heart, Now will the kingdom turn back to the house of David.
And Jeroboam will say in his heart, Now will the kingdom turn back to the house of David. If this people shall go up to .do sacrifices in the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, and the heart of this people turned back to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and killing me, and they turned back to Rehoboam king of Judah.
If this people shall go up to .do sacrifices in the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, and the heart of this people turned back to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and killing me, and they turned back to Rehoboam king of Judah. And the king will consult and make two calves of gold, and he will say to them, Much for you going up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt
And the king will consult and make two calves of gold, and he will say to them, Much for you going up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt And he will set up the one in the house of God, and the one he gave in Dan.
And Jehoshaphat will say to the king of Israel, Seek now, according to the day, the word of Jehovah.
And Jehoshaphat will say to the king of Israel, Seek now, according to the day, the word of Jehovah. And the king of Israel will gather together the prophets, about four hundred men, and he will say to them. Shall I go to Ramoth-Gilead to war, or shall I desist? and they will say, Go up; and Jehovah will give into the hand of the king.
And the king of Israel will gather together the prophets, about four hundred men, and he will say to them. Shall I go to Ramoth-Gilead to war, or shall I desist? and they will say, Go up; and Jehovah will give into the hand of the king.
And Jehu will gather together all the people, and say to them, Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.
And Jehu will gather together all the people, and say to them, Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. And now all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests, call ye to me: a man shall not be missing: for a great sacrifice to me for Baal; every one who shall be missing shall not live. And Jehu did in fraud, in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
And now all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests, call ye to me: a man shall not be missing: for a great sacrifice to me for Baal; every one who shall be missing shall not live. And Jehu did in fraud, in order to destroy the servants of Baal. And Jehu will say, Consecrate an assembly to Baal, and they will call.
And Jehu will say, Consecrate an assembly to Baal, and they will call. And Jehu will send in all Israel: and all the servants of Baal will come, and there was not a man left who came not. And they will come to the house of Baal, and the house of Baal will be filled, mouth to mouth.
And Jehu will send in all Israel: and all the servants of Baal will come, and there was not a man left who came not. And they will come to the house of Baal, and the house of Baal will be filled, mouth to mouth. And he will say to him over the vestry, Bring forth garments for all the servants of Baal. And he will bring forth to them garments.
And he will say to him over the vestry, Bring forth garments for all the servants of Baal. And he will bring forth to them garments. And Jehu will come, and Jehonadab son of Rechab, to the house of Baal, and he Will say to the servants of Baal, Search and see, lest there is here with you of the servants of Jehovah, but the servants of Baal only.
And Jehu will come, and Jehonadab son of Rechab, to the house of Baal, and he Will say to the servants of Baal, Search and see, lest there is here with you of the servants of Jehovah, but the servants of Baal only. And they will go in to do sacrifices and burnt-offerings, and Jehu set to him without, eighty men; and he will say, The man who shall escape from these men which I bring upon your hands, his soul instead of his soul.
And they will go in to do sacrifices and burnt-offerings, and Jehu set to him without, eighty men; and he will say, The man who shall escape from these men which I bring upon your hands, his soul instead of his soul. And it will be when they finished doing the burnt-offering, and Jehu will say to the runners and to the third rulers, Go in; strike them; a man shall not go forth. And they will strike them with the mouth of the sword and the runners and the thirds will cast out, and they will go even to the city of the house of Baal.
And it will be when they finished doing the burnt-offering, and Jehu will say to the runners and to the third rulers, Go in; strike them; a man shall not go forth. And they will strike them with the mouth of the sword and the runners and the thirds will cast out, and they will go even to the city of the house of Baal. And they will bring forth the pillars of the house of Baal, and they will burn them.
And they will bring forth the pillars of the house of Baal, and they will burn them. And they will lay waste the images of Baal, and they will lay waste the house of Baal, and they will set it for a sink even to this day.
And they will lay waste the images of Baal, and they will lay waste the house of Baal, and they will set it for a sink even to this day. And Jehu will destroy Baal out of Israel.
And Jehu will destroy Baal out of Israel. But the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, Johu turned not away from after them, the calves of gold which were in the house of God and which were in Dan.
But the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, Johu turned not away from after them, the calves of gold which were in the house of God and which were in Dan.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, came Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, and he will take Ijon, and Abel of the house of oppression, and Janoah, and Kadesh and Hazer, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he will carry them captive to Assyria.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, came Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, and he will take Ijon, and Abel of the house of oppression, and Janoah, and Kadesh and Hazer, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he will carry them captive to Assyria.
In the ninth year to Hoshea the king of Assur took Shomeron, and he will carry Israel into exile to Assur, and set them in Halah and in Habor, the river of Gozan, and the cities of the Medes.
In the ninth year to Hoshea the king of Assur took Shomeron, and he will carry Israel into exile to Assur, and set them in Halah and in Habor, the river of Gozan, and the cities of the Medes.
Kiss the chosen lest he shall be angry, and ye perish in the way when his anger shall kindle as a little. Happy all they putting their trust in him.
Kiss the chosen lest he shall be angry, and ye perish in the way when his anger shall kindle as a little. Happy all they putting their trust in him.
And they will change their glory into the likeness of an ox eating grass.
And they will change their glory into the likeness of an ox eating grass.
Thy calf rejected, O Shomeron; mine anger was kindled against them: how long shall they not be able to be clean?
Thy calf rejected, O Shomeron; mine anger was kindled against them: how long shall they not be able to be clean? For from Israel, and this workman made it, and it is not God: for the calf of Shomeron shall be broken in pieces.
For from Israel, and this workman made it, and it is not God: for the calf of Shomeron shall be broken in pieces.
For the calves of the house of vanity they shall fear dwelling in Shomeron: for his people mourned over it, and his priests will exult over it, for its glory, for it was removed from it
For the calves of the house of vanity they shall fear dwelling in Shomeron: for his people mourned over it, and his priests will exult over it, for its glory, for it was removed from it Also it shall be brought to Assur a gift to king Jareb: Ephraim shall take shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his counsel.
Also it shall be brought to Assur a gift to king Jareb: Ephraim shall take shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his counsel.
And now they will add to sin, and they will make to them a molten image of their silver, in their understanding images the work of artificers all of it: they saying to them, The men sacrificing shall kiss the calves.
And now they will add to sin, and they will make to them a molten image of their silver, in their understanding images the work of artificers all of it: they saying to them, The men sacrificing shall kiss the calves.
Take with you words and turn back to Jehovah: say to him, Thou wilt take away all iniquity, and take good: and we will requite the fruits of our lips.
Take with you words and turn back to Jehovah: say to him, Thou wilt take away all iniquity, and take good: and we will requite the fruits of our lips.
Having said to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has been to him.
Having said to Aaron, Make us gods who shall go before us: for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has been to him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought up a sacrifice to the image, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.
And they made a calf in those days, and brought up a sacrifice to the image, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. And God turned, and delivered them up to serve the army of heaven; as it has been written in the book of the prophets, Slain victims and sacrifices brought ye not to me forty years in the desert, O house of Israel,
And God turned, and delivered them up to serve the army of heaven; as it has been written in the book of the prophets, Slain victims and sacrifices brought ye not to me forty years in the desert, O house of Israel, And ye took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, types which ye made to worship them: and I will transplant you beyond Babylon.
And ye took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, types which ye made to worship them: and I will transplant you beyond Babylon.
By him therefore we should always bring up the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips assenting to his name.
By him therefore we should always bring up the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips assenting to his name.