Sin of the Golden Calf/2
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Sin of the Golden Calf
Exegetical Approaches
Foreign God
The nation viewed the calf as a god and worshiped it either together with or instead of Hashem.
Sources:Philo, Bavli, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, R. Saadia Gaon, Rashi, Lekach Tov, R. Avraham b. HaRambam,
"עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ" – These sources understand the word " אֱלֹהִים" to mean god/s. Rashi picks up on the plural form of the verb "יֵלְכוּ" to prove that the nation even desired multiple gods.1 However, they disagree whether, in building the calf, the nation was forsaking Hashem totally in favor of a new god, or if they were planning on worshiping the calf together with Hashem (שיתוף).
- R. Yochanan in Bavli
"אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם"
"חַג לַי"י מָחָר"
Why does Moshe's delay result in the sin?
Offering sacrifices
Why a calf?
Water test
Breaking of the Luchot
Role of Aharon
Sinning so soon after Matan Torah
3,000 killed
Biblical parallels
People's perception of Moshe
Graven Image of Hashem
The people viewed the calf as a means through which they could worship Hashem. They did not transgress the command of "you shall have no other gods besides me" but only the prohibition against making a graven image, even of Hashem Himself.
Guide in the Wilderness
Bereft of Moshe's leadership and his connection to the Divine, the people looked for an alternative to guide them in the wilderness.
"עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ"
Polemical motivations
Tehillim 106:19-20
Combination
As the nation was not a homogenous group, it is possible that while some people viewed the calf as an alternative god, others believed that it was simply a tangible representation of Hashem and yet others looked to it to guide them in their travels.
