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金牛像

32 人民見摩西遲遲不下山,就聚集到亞倫那裡去,對他說:“起來,為我們做神像可以走在我們前頭領路,因為那摩西,就是把我們從埃及地領出來的那個人,我們不知道他遭遇了甚麼事。” 亞倫對他們說:“把你們妻子和兒女戴在耳上的金環摘下來,送來給我。” 全體人民就把他們耳上的金耳環都摘下來,送來給亞倫。 亞倫從他們手中接過來,用雕刻的工具雕刻,鑄造了一個牛像;他們就說:“以色列啊,這就是你們的神,就是把你從埃及地領出來的那位。” 亞倫看見了,就在牛像面前築了一座祭壇,並且宣告,說:“明日是耶和華的節日。” 次日清早,人民起來,就獻上了燔祭,也帶來了平安祭;然後他們坐下吃喝,起來玩樂。

摩西向 神求情(A)

耶和華對摩西說:“你下山去吧,因為你的人民,就是你從埃及地領出來的,已經敗壞了。 他們很快就偏離了我吩咐他們的道路,為自己鑄造了一個牛像,向它跪拜,向它獻祭,說:‘以色列啊,這就是你的神,就是把你從埃及地領出來的那位。’” 耶和華對摩西說:“我看這人民,真是硬著頸項的人民。 10 現在,你且由得我,讓我向他們發烈怒,把他們消滅;我要使你成為大國。” 11 摩西就懇求耶和華他的 神施恩,說:“耶和華啊,你為甚麼向你的人民發烈怒呢?這人民是你用大能和全能的手從埃及地領出來的。 12 為甚麼讓埃及人議論,說:‘把他們領出來是出於惡意的,要在山上殺死他們,在地上消滅他們’呢?求你回心轉意,不發烈怒;求你改變初衷,不降禍給你的人民。 13 求你記念你的僕人亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各;你曾經指著自己向他們起誓,說:‘我必使你的後裔增多,好像天上的星一樣;我必把我應許的這全地賜給你的後裔,他們必永遠承受這地作產業。’” 14 於是,耶和華改變初衷,不把他所說的禍降在他的人民身上。

摩西發怒摔破法版(B)

15 摩西轉身,從山上下來,手裡拿著兩塊法版;法版是兩面寫的,這面和那面都寫著字。 16 法版是 神的工作,字是 神寫的,刻在法版上。 17 約書亞聽見人民呼喊的聲音的時候,就對摩西說:“營裡有戰爭的聲音。” 18 摩西回答:

“這不是戰勝的呼聲,

也不是戰敗的呼聲;

我聽見的是歌唱的聲音。”

19 摩西走近營前的時候,看見了那牛犢,又看見了有人唱歌跳舞,他就發烈怒,把兩塊法版從他的手中摔掉,在山下把它們摔碎了。 20 又把他們所做的那牛犢拿過來,用火焚燒,磨到粉碎,撒在水面上,讓以色列人喝。

21 摩西對亞倫說:“這人民向你作了甚麼,你竟使他們陷在大罪裡呢?” 22 亞倫回答:“求我主不要發烈怒,你知道這人民傾向罪惡。 23 他們對我說:‘給我們做神像,可以在我們前面引路,因為那摩西,就是把我們從埃及地領出來的那個人,我們不知道他遭遇了甚麼事。’ 24 我對他們說:‘凡是有金子的,都可以摘下來’,他們就給了我;我把它丟在火裡,這牛犢就出來了。”

懲罰拜金牛犢的人

25 摩西看見人民放肆原來是亞倫縱容他們,使他們成為那些起來與他們為敵的人的笑柄, 26 就站在營門中,說:“凡是屬耶和華的,都可以到我這裡來。”於是,所有利未的子孫都到他那裡聚集。 27 摩西對他們說:“耶和華以色列的 神這樣說:‘你們各人要把自己的劍佩在大腿上,在營中往來行走,從這門到那門;你們各人要殺自己的兄弟、鄰舍和親人。’” 28 利未的子孫照著摩西的話作了;那一天,人民中被殺的約有三千人。 29 摩西說:“今天你們要奉獻自己歸耶和華為聖,因為各人犧牲了自己的兒子和兄弟,好使耶和華今天賜福給你們。”

摩西代禱(C)

30 第二天,摩西對人民說:“你們犯了大罪,現在我要上耶和華那裡去,或者我可以為你們贖罪。” 31 於是,摩西回到耶和華那裡,說:“唉,這人民犯了大罪,為自己做了金神像。 32 現在,如果你肯赦免他們的罪,那就好了;如果不肯,求你從你所寫的冊上把我塗抹吧。” 33 耶和華對摩西說:“誰得罪了我,我就要從我的冊上把誰塗抹。 34 現在你去吧,領這人民到我吩咐你的地方去。看哪,我的使者必在你前面引路;只是在我追討的日子,我必追討他們的罪。” 35 耶和華擊殺人民是因為他們敬拜亞倫做的牛犢。

The Golden Calf

32 Then the people saw that Moses (A)delayed to come down from the mountain. So the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Arise, (B)make us [a]gods who will go before us; as for (C)this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “(D)Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he took this from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a (E)molten calf; and they said, “[b]These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” And Aaron looked and built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.” So the next day they rose early and (F)offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and (G)the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up (H)to play.

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go! Go down at once, for your people, whom (I)you brought up from the land of Egypt, have (J)corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. (K)They have made for themselves a molten calf and have worshiped it and (L)have sacrificed to it and said, ‘[c](M)These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” (N)And Yahweh said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are (O)a stiff-necked people. 10 Now then (P)let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may consume them; and (Q)I will make you a great nation.”

11 Then (R)Moses entreated [d]the favor of Yahweh his God and said, “O Yahweh, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand? 12 Why should (S)the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and relent concerning doing harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You (T)swore by Yourself, and You said to them, ‘I will (U)multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and (V)all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 (W)So Yahweh relented concerning the harm which He said He would do to His people.

15 (X)Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain. And the two tablets of the testimony were in his hand, (Y)tablets which were written on both [e]sides; they were written on one side and the other. 16 Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets. 17 Then Joshua heard the sound of the people [f]as they shouted. And he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.” 18 But he said,

“It is not the sound of the cry of triumph,
Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat;
But the sound of singing I hear.”

19 Now it happened, as soon as [g]Moses came near the camp, that (Z)he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and (AA)he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them [h]at the foot of the mountain. 20 (AB)Then he took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it.

21 Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, (AC)that they are [i]prone to evil. 23 Indeed (AD)they said to me, ‘Make [j]gods for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and (AE)I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”

25 Now Moses saw that the people were [k]out of control—for Aaron had (AF)let them [l]get out of control to be a derision among [m]their enemies— 26 so Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Whoever is for Yahweh, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Every man among you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother and every man his friend and every man his [n]neighbor.’” 28 So (AG)the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. 29 Then Moses said, “[o]Be ordained today to Yahweh—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.”

30 Now it happened on the next day, that Moses said to the people, “(AH)You yourselves have [p]committed a great sin; but now I am going up to Yahweh, perhaps I can (AI)make atonement for your sin.” 31 Then Moses returned to Yahweh and said, “Alas, this people has [q]committed a great sin, and they have made [r](AJ)gods of gold for themselves. 32 But now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out from Your (AK)book which You have written!” 33 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, (AL)I will blot him out of My book. 34 But now go, guide the people (AM)where I told you. Behold, (AN)My angel shall go before you; nevertheless (AO)in the day when I [s]punish, (AP)I will [t]punish them for their sin.” 35 (AQ)Then Yahweh smote the people because of (AR)what they did with the calf which Aaron had made.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 32:1 Or a god
  2. Exodus 32:4 Or This is your god
  3. Exodus 32:8 Or This is your god
  4. Exodus 32:11 Lit the face of Yahweh
  5. Exodus 32:15 Lit their sides
  6. Exodus 32:17 Lit in its shouting
  7. Exodus 32:19 Lit he
  8. Exodus 32:19 Lit beneath
  9. Exodus 32:22 Lit in evil
  10. Exodus 32:23 Or a god
  11. Exodus 32:25 Lit let loose
  12. Exodus 32:25 Lit go loose
  13. Exodus 32:25 Lit those who rise against them
  14. Exodus 32:27 Or kin
  15. Exodus 32:29 Lit Fill your hand
  16. Exodus 32:30 Lit sinned
  17. Exodus 32:31 Lit sinned
  18. Exodus 32:31 Or a god
  19. Exodus 32:34 Lit visit
  20. Exodus 32:34 Lit visit their sin upon them

The Golden Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain,(A) they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before(B) us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”(C)

Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings(D) that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol(E) cast in the shape of a calf,(F) fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b](G) Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”(H)

When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival(I) to the Lord.” So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings.(J) Afterward they sat down to eat and drink(K) and got up to indulge in revelry.(L)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,(M) have become corrupt.(N) They have been quick to turn away(O) from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol(P) cast in the shape of a calf.(Q) They have bowed down to it and sacrificed(R) to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’(S)

“I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked(T) people. 10 Now leave me alone(U) so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy(V) them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”(W)

11 But Moses sought the favor(X) of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?(Y) 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?(Z) Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster(AA) on your people. 13 Remember(AB) your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:(AC) ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars(AD) in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land(AE) I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the Lord relented(AF) and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law(AG) in his hands.(AH) They were inscribed(AI) on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.(AJ)

17 When Joshua(AK) heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.”

18 Moses replied:

“It is not the sound of victory,
    it is not the sound of defeat;
    it is the sound of singing that I hear.”

19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf(AL) and the dancing,(AM) his anger burned(AN) and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces(AO) at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf the people had made and burned(AP) it in the fire; then he ground it to powder,(AQ) scattered it on the water(AR) and made the Israelites drink it.

21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

22 “Do not be angry,(AS) my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.(AT) 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’(AU) 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”(AV)

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock(AW) to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”(AX) 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.(AY) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement(AZ) for your sin.”

31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!(BA) They have made themselves gods of gold.(BB) 32 But now, please forgive their sin(BC)—but if not, then blot me(BD) out of the book(BE) you have written.”

33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out(BF) of my book. 34 Now go, lead(BG) the people to the place(BH) I spoke of, and my angel(BI) will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,(BJ) I will punish them for their sin.”

35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf(BK) Aaron had made.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 32:1 Or a god; also in verses 23 and 31
  2. Exodus 32:4 Or This is your god; also in verse 8