Biblical Parallels Index – Shemot 32/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Shemot 32

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The Sin of the Calf in Shemot 32 and Devarim 9

The story of the sin of the golden calf is initially told in Shemot 32-34 and recounted by Moshe to the nation in Devarim 9.  Moshe's retelling omits some aspects of the original while emphasizing others, suggesting that he had a specific agenda in presenting the story as he does.

Tools

• Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the two stories and see the interactive table here.

Articles

• See Sin of the Golden Calf in Shemot and Devarim for a comparison of the two accounts.  The article notes Devarim's unique emphasis on Moshe's prayers and how Moshe places the sin in the context of many similar ones, highlighting the nation's consistent rebellious nature. Moshe emphasizes that had it not been for his prayers on their behalf, not only would they not have inherited the land, they would have been completely destroyed. Moshe's goal in his retelling is to impart the message that the people must change their ways in the future since, after they enter the land, Moshe will no long be around to intercede on their behalf.
• See ?תפילת משה - לפני הירידה מההר או אחריה, by R. Amnon Bazak, who suggests that the two accounts illustrate two different aspects of the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people, one in which the destruction of the entire nation is a real possibility, and one in which it is not. He connects these to two seemingly contradictory prophecies in Yeshayahu 50:1 and Yirmeyahu 3:8, one of which suggests that Hashem might "divorce" the people and the other which suggests that Hashem would never do so.  
• See Ekev: Moshe’s Interpretation of the Sin of the Golden Calf, by Prof. Yonatan Grossman, for a comparison and contrast of the two accounts of the story in Shemot and Devarim.  Prof. Grossman suggests that Shemot presents the sin as one of idolatry, whereas Moshe’s interpretation in Devarim views it as a sin of corporealization of Hashem.  
• Listen to Comparing Chet Ha-Egel in Shemot 32 and Devarim 9, by R. Yoni Zolty, for an analysis of how the two narratives reflect different understandings of the motivation for the sin and different approaches to serving Hashem writ large.  R. Zolty suggests that in general Shemot and Devarim have different orientations toward how to serve Hashem, and the telling of the sin in each book reflects its particular focus.