Sin of the Golden Calf/2

Sin of the Golden Calf

Exegetical Approaches

Replacement of Hashem

Alternative to Worshiping Hashem

Sources:PhiloThe Special Laws, III XXII:125About Philo, Bavli SanhedrinSanhedrin 63aAbout the Bavli, Targum Pseudo-JonathanShemot 32:3-6About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer45About Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, RashiShemot 32:1-6About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Lekach TovBereshit 32:1About R. Toviah b. Eliezer, Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 32:1Shemot Short Commentary 32:1About R. Avraham ibn Ezra,¹ R. Avraham b. HaRambamShemot 32:4-9Shemot 32:22Shemot 32:22About R. Avraham Maimonides, RalbagShemot Beur HaParashah 31:18About R. Levi b. Gershom,²

Why does Moshe's delay result in the sin?

"עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים"

"אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם"

"חַג לַי"י מָחָר"

Offering sacrifices

Why a calf?

Water test

Role of Aharon

Sinning so soon after Matan Torah

3,000 killed

Biblical parallels

Representation of Hashem Through the Calf

Sources:Kuzari1:97About R. Yehuda HaLevi, RashbamShemot 32:1-4About R. Shemuel b. Meir³, RadakMelakhim I 12:28About R. David Kimchi,

Replacement of Moshe

Sources:R. Yosef Bekhor ShorShemot 32:1-8About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambanShemot 32:1About R. Moshe b. Nachman, AbarbanelShemot 32:1-7About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel ShadalShemot 32:4Shemot 32:8-9Shemot 32:27About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto,

Polemical motivations

Tehillim 106:19-20

Replacement of the Mishkan

Sources:R. Eliezer AshkenaziMa'asei Hashem Ma'asei Torah 11Ma'asei Hashem Ma'asei Torah 12About R. Eliezer Ashkenazi (Ma'asei Hashem),

¹ Ibn Ezra understands that Aharon's purpose was to worship Hashem, but some of the nation thought he created idolatry and worshiped it.

² Ralbag seems to follow Ibn Ezra, that Aharon did not intend to make idolatry.

³ undefined