Exodus 32-40 Flashcards
What was the Tabernacle?
Quite simply, it was a tent where Yhwh met with the people of Israel. It was the center of the community’s worship. In fact, according to the arrangement of the camp at the beginning of Numbers, it was quite literally at the center of the community.
Who hears the ten commandments?
Everyone! They’ve met with God at Mount Sinai. Moses goes up, and then they build an idol.
What does God want to do with the Israelites after the Golden Calf?
He wants to destroy them, but Moses talks him down.
How long is Moses at the top of the mountain getting the laws for the people?
He’s gone for 40 days, over a month! They have no idea what’s happening and need reassurance that God is there.
What is Dr. Thomas’ favorite line in this narrative?
When Aaron says that he threw the gold in the fire and out came a calf! lol. They gave me gold and out came a calf. But it’s pretty clear that he made the calf.
What are options for how to read the Golden Calf story?
- It was an idol that people built and people started worshipping. There were bull cults all over this area. Thomas says this is a legit way of reading it. The Egyptians used to do this. In verse 5 it says that they should have a festival to Yahweh, so maybe the calf was a representation of Yahweh. This is a little different. The calf could have been meant to be a representation of Yhwh. This would still be a violation of the commandment against graven images, but not, strictly speaking, idolatry. Verse 5 may support this with its reference to a feast of Yhwh / חַג לַיהוָה.
- The calf might have been seen as a footstool for Yahweh. We see this in Baal worship, where he is seen standing on bulls. The calf could have been meant to be a footstool for Yhwh. The Canaanite god, Baal, is sometimes depicted as standing on the back of a couple of bulls, for example. In this case, the calf would take the place of the ark.
- Maybe the story as a whole can be seen as a polemic against the bull cult of the northern kingdom of Israel. The kingdom split and the northern kingdom the king made golden bulls and put them at the ends of the kingdom. In the book of kings, this is the MAIN reason why the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians. It was THE sin of Jeroboam. When you read it in light of this history, it makes a lot of sense. The question is, which came first? Many scholars think the Golden Calf story came afterwards.
Another possibility (which I will explain more below), is that the story is a polemic against the bull cults that King Jeroboam established in the northern kingdom of Israel after the United Kingdom split in 922. Of course, this could work in conjunction with one of the other views above.
What were the different priesthoods?
- Aaronite priests that come from Aaron.
- The Levites, that come from the house of Levi.
- The Zodokes, that come from the line of David.
What is the sign of the Sinai covenant?
Thus, the sign of the Sinai Covenant is connected to ceasing from work (think back to the slavery in Egypt) and a focus on Yhwh (proper, in light of the Golden Calf).
What did bulls represent in the ancient Near East?
As I mentioned, images of bulls were often used in the ancient Near East as symbols of either gods or the place where a god would stand.
What was the sin of Jeroboam?
In 922, Solomon died, effectively ending the United Monarchy. The kingdom split into the southern kingdom of Judah, ruled by King Rehoboam, and the northern kingdom of Israel, ruled by King Jeroboam. According to 1 Kings 12, once the kingdom split, Jeroboam was concerned that the people would return to Judah’s control is they kept going to Jerusalem to worship, so
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. (vv. 28-29)
Sound familiar? This sin of Jeroboam is seen as the most serious sin committed in the kingdom of Israel. Throughout the rest of Kings, this sin is mentioned in reference to why the northern kingdom was so evil.
Many scholars now see the Golden Calf story as related to this event in the early Divided Monarchy. Whether it was an earlier tradition that was linked to the north, or a story created to discredit Israel (and the Aaronide priesthood), the effect is the same: the story shows the illegitimacy of the northern kingdom of Israel.
What arguments does Moses use to save the people against God?
- Your reputation will be ruined among the Egyptians. (32.12)
- Remember your covenant; you can’t break that. (32.13)
What does it mean that God does not rebuke Moses for arguing with him?
This either speaks of the relationship Moses and God have or that God wants us to argue on behalf of God’s people.
Moses asks to see God face to face, but God says that’s impossible. He shows him his back. What does he say about himself when this happens? This never happens in scripture (God saying who he is).
Ex. 34: 6-7. Yhwh Yhwh God, showing-mercy, showing-favor, long-suffering in anger, abundant in loyalty and faithfulness, keeping loyalty to the thousandth (generation), bearing iniquity, rebellion and sin, yet not clearing, clearing (the guilty), calling-to-account the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons and upon sons’ sons, to the third and fourth (generation)!
The mercy outweighs the wrath, contradicting what we think of the God of the OT vs the God of the NT.
This is who Yahweh is to Moses.
What has happened with the covenant in the Golden Calf episode? What does God do? Why is this important?
The Hebrews have broken the covenant. He establishes a new covenant, focusing on ritual observance of worshipping God. They need to show God that they are committed for the long haul. It is also important because it establishes the idea of a new covenant. We see it again in Jeremiah 31, and then again in the New Testament (covenant) with Jesus.
Why does Exodus go into detail about how they built the tabernacle?
To point out that they did EXACTLY what Yahweh asked them to do. This is to say, “We’ve listened to you after the Golden Calf. We’re going to do EXACTLY what you say”.
