frivolous and even false excuses b. "Well might Moses lament before God, " Oh! this people have sinned a great sin!"']
But the greatness of the sin will be more easily imagined from the indignation which both God and Moses expressed against it —
[The wrath of God, we are told, was " fierce, and waxed hot" against the offending people; and he threatened instantly to destroy them. The anger of Moses also " waxed hot" as soon as ever he beheld their impiety: and the indignation he manifested clearly shewed his opinion at least of their conduct.
First, having in his hands the tables of stone, whereon God had with his own finger written the precepts of his law, he dashed them in pieces before their eyes. This was no rash ex- pression of intemperate wrath, but a holy and significant emblem, representing to them the crime they had committed. God had condescended to enter into covenant with them to be their God ; and they had covenanted to be his people: and these tables of stone contained, as it were, the terms of the agreement; and were a pledge, that God would fulfil to them all that he had spoken. But this covenant they had entirely annulled; and all their expectations from God were utterly destroyed.
Next, he reduced the idol to dust, and cast it on the water, that all the people might be compelled to drink of it. This was well calculated to shew them how much they had debased them- selves, in submitting to worship that as a god, which they must swallow with their food, and cast off together with it.
But lastly, he made them feel, as well as see, the marks of his displeasure. He called the Levites, who notwithstanding the defection of Aaron had remained faithful to their God, and commanded them to go through the camp, and without favour or pity to slay all the ringleaders with the sword. Thus were three thousand of them punished on the spot : there needed no formality of trial: they were caught in the fact; and the judg- ment of zeal was deservedly executed upon them.]
That no part of Moses' anger was of a sinful kind, or expressed with undue severity, is evident from .his tender compassion for the offenders, whilst he hated and abhorred their offence. To elucidate this, we notice, II. The intercession of Moses —
No sooner did he see how God was displeased with them, than, notwithstanding the prohibition given him, he began to intercede for them —
b ver. 24.