Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Falsehood » Instances of » Aaron, in attempting to shift responsibility for the making of the golden calf
The people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain. They gathered around Aaron. They said to him: We do not know what has happened to Moses, the man who led us out of Egypt. Make gods to lead us. Aaron replied: Have your wives, sons, and daughters take off the gold earrings they are wearing. Bring them to me. The people took off their gold earrings and handed them to Aaron. read more.
After he worked on the gold with a tool, he made it into a statue of a calf. Then they said: Israel, this is your god, who brought you out of Egypt. Aaron built an altar in front of it when he saw what happened. Then he announced: Tomorrow there will be a festival in Jehovah's honor. Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. After that they sat down to a feast, which turned into an orgy. Jehovah said to Moses: Go down there. Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They made a statue of a calf for themselves. They have bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They said: Israel, here is your god who brought you out of Egypt.' Jehovah added: I have seen these people. They have an iron sinew (stiff necked people) (are impossible to deal with). Now let me alone. Let my anger burn against them. I am so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation. But Moses pleaded with Jehovah his God. Jehovah, he said, why are you so angry with your people? These are your people whom you brought out of Egypt using your great power and mighty hand! Do not let the Egyptians say: 'He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth. That is why he brought them out of our land.' Do not be so angry. Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You took an oath, swearing on yourself. You told them: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. I will give to your descendants all the land I spoke of. It will be their long lasting possession.' So Jehovah changed his mind and did not bring disaster on his people as he threatened. Moses went back down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides. God made the tablets and engraved the commandments on them. Joshua heard the people shouting and said to Moses: I hear the sound of war in the camp. Moses replied: That does not sound like a shout of victory or a cry of defeat; it is the sound of singing. Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing. He became furious! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them. He took the bull-calf that they had made, melted it, ground it into fine powder, and mixed it with water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it. Moses asked Aaron: What did these people do to harm you? Why did you make them sin in this terrible way? Aaron said, Do not be angry with me. You know the people as well as I do. They are determined to do evil. They said to me: 'That man Moses led us out of Egypt, but now we do not know what has happened to him. Make us a god to lead us.' Then I asked them to bring me their gold earrings. They took them off and gave them to me. I threw the gold into a fire, and out came this bull.
After he worked on the gold with a tool, he made it into a statue of a calf. Then they said: Israel, this is your god, who brought you out of Egypt. Aaron built an altar in front of it when he saw what happened. Then he announced: Tomorrow there will be a festival in Jehovah's honor. Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. After that they sat down to a feast, which turned into an orgy. Jehovah said to Moses: Go down there. Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live. They made a statue of a calf for themselves. They have bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it. They said: Israel, here is your god who brought you out of Egypt.' Jehovah added: I have seen these people. They have an iron sinew (stiff necked people) (are impossible to deal with). Now let me alone. Let my anger burn against them. I am so angry with them I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation. But Moses pleaded with Jehovah his God. Jehovah, he said, why are you so angry with your people? These are your people whom you brought out of Egypt using your great power and mighty hand! Do not let the Egyptians say: 'He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth. That is why he brought them out of our land.' Do not be so angry. Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You took an oath, swearing on yourself. You told them: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. I will give to your descendants all the land I spoke of. It will be their long lasting possession.' So Jehovah changed his mind and did not bring disaster on his people as he threatened. Moses went back down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides. God made the tablets and engraved the commandments on them. Joshua heard the people shouting and said to Moses: I hear the sound of war in the camp. Moses replied: That does not sound like a shout of victory or a cry of defeat; it is the sound of singing. Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing. He became furious! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them. He took the bull-calf that they had made, melted it, ground it into fine powder, and mixed it with water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it. Moses asked Aaron: What did these people do to harm you? Why did you make them sin in this terrible way? Aaron said, Do not be angry with me. You know the people as well as I do. They are determined to do evil. They said to me: 'That man Moses led us out of Egypt, but now we do not know what has happened to him. Make us a god to lead us.' Then I asked them to bring me their gold earrings. They took them off and gave them to me. I threw the gold into a fire, and out came this bull.
Sinai » A mountain in the peninsula east of the red sea » The law delivered to moses upon
The chariots of God are myriads in number, thousands upon thousands. Jehovah is among them. The God of Sinai is in his holy place.
At the end of forty years, Jehovah's angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai in a flame of fire in a bush. (Exodus 3:3)
Jehovah came from Mount Sinai. He rose like the sun over Edom and shone on his people from Mount Paran. Ten thousand angels were with him. A flaming fire was at his right hand.
This one was with our father in the congregation in the wilderness. The angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. He received the living oracles to give to us.
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: Sinai was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Be careful! When God spoke to you from the fire, he was invisible.
These are the terms of the covenant that Jehovah commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab. All this was in addition to the covenant Jehovah made with them at Mount Sinai.
You should remember the Law of Moses my servant. I commanded the statutes and ordinances (regulations and judgments) to him at Horeb for all Israel.
These are the laws, rules, and instructions Jehovah gave to the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai.
On Mount Sinai Jehovah gave Moses commands about these offerings. At the same time he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to him in the Sinai Desert.
You came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders.
Jehovah called Moses from the mountain. So Moses went up the mountain to God. Jehovah told him: This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to me. If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine. read more.
You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.' Moses went down the mountain and called for the elders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Jehovah had commanded him. All the people answered together: We will do everything Jehovah has said. So Moses brought their answer back to Jehovah. Jehovah said to Moses: I will come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you and will believe you from now on. Moses gave Jehovah the people's answer. Jehovah continued: Go to the people and tell them to spend today and tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes. They should be ready in three days. I will descend to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me. Warn the people that they are forbidden to touch any part of the mountain. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death, with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of a person killed in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet. Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. He said to the people: Get ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman for sexual intercourse. On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain. A very loud trumpet sounded. It caused all the people in the camp to tremble. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Jehovah descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace. The whole mountain quaked violently! The sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. Jehovah descended on the top of Mount Sinai. Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain. Moses climbed to the peak of Mount Sinai. Jehovah spoke to Moses: Go down and warn the people. They should not break through to gaze at Jehovah. Many of them would perish. Let the priests who come near to Jehovah consecrate (purify) themselves, or else Jehovah will destroy them. Moses said to Jehovah: The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai for you warned us. You said: 'Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.' Jehovah replied to him: You and Aaron come up to me. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Jehovah, or he will destroy some of them. Moses returned to the people and told them.
You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.' Moses went down the mountain and called for the elders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Jehovah had commanded him. All the people answered together: We will do everything Jehovah has said. So Moses brought their answer back to Jehovah. Jehovah said to Moses: I will come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you and will believe you from now on. Moses gave Jehovah the people's answer. Jehovah continued: Go to the people and tell them to spend today and tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes. They should be ready in three days. I will descend to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me. Warn the people that they are forbidden to touch any part of the mountain. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death, with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of a person killed in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet. Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. He said to the people: Get ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman for sexual intercourse. On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain. A very loud trumpet sounded. It caused all the people in the camp to tremble. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Jehovah descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace. The whole mountain quaked violently! The sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. Jehovah descended on the top of Mount Sinai. Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain. Moses climbed to the peak of Mount Sinai. Jehovah spoke to Moses: Go down and warn the people. They should not break through to gaze at Jehovah. Many of them would perish. Let the priests who come near to Jehovah consecrate (purify) themselves, or else Jehovah will destroy them. Moses said to Jehovah: The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai for you warned us. You said: 'Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.' Jehovah replied to him: You and Aaron come up to me. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Jehovah, or he will destroy some of them. Moses returned to the people and told them.
Jehovah said to Moses: Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while. I will give you the two stone tablets on which I have written the laws that my people must obey. Moses and Joshua his assistant got ready. Moses started up the mountain to meet with God. He said to the elders: Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are with you. Anyone with a legal matter should approach them. read more.
Moses went up to the mountain. The cloud covered the mountain. The glory of Jehovah rested on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days. God called to Moses on the seventh day. He spoke from inside the cloud. To the eyes of the Israelites the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain. Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain. He was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Moses went up to the mountain. The cloud covered the mountain. The glory of Jehovah rested on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days. God called to Moses on the seventh day. He spoke from inside the cloud. To the eyes of the Israelites the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain. Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain. He was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Moses went back down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides. God made the tablets and engraved the commandments on them.
Be ready in the morning. Come up on Mount Sinai and present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No man may come with you or even be seen anywhere on the mountain. Even the flocks and herds may not graze in front of this mountain. Moses cut two more stone tablets. Early the next morning he carried them up Mount Sinai, just as Jehovah commanded.
Jehovah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and commanded:
This is the list of Aaron and Moses' descendants when Jehovah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Has any other human ever heard the only true God speaking from fire, as we have? And if they have, would they live to tell about it?
Tables » Of testimony » Were broken
I took hold of the two tablets and threw them from my hands and smashed them before your eyes.
He told you what you must do to keep the covenant he made with you. You must obey the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets.
Jehovah said to Moses: Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while. I will give you the two stone tablets on which I have written the laws that my people must obey.
When God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
When I went up on the mountain to get the stone tablets, the tablets of the promise that Jehovah made to you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights without food or water. Then Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets inscribed by God's finger (Holy Spirit). On them were written all the words Jehovah spoke to you from the fire on the mountain on the day of the assembly. At the end of forty days and nights Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.
Moses went back down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides. God made the tablets and engraved the commandments on them. Joshua heard the people shouting and said to Moses: I hear the sound of war in the camp. read more.
Moses replied: That does not sound like a shout of victory or a cry of defeat; it is the sound of singing. Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing. He became furious! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them.
Moses replied: That does not sound like a shout of victory or a cry of defeat; it is the sound of singing. Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing. He became furious! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them.
Tables » Of testimony
When God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. The two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he came down from the mountain. Moses did not know that the skin of his face glowed because he spoke with God.
Moses went back down the mountain. He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides.