What is the story of the golden calf?
Mentioned in Exodus 32 and I Kings 12 in the Old Testament, worship of the golden calf is seen as a supreme act of apostasy, the rejection of a faith once confessed. The figure is probably a representation of the Egyptian bull god Apis in the earlier period and of the Canaanite fertility god Baal in the latter.
Why did the Israelites drink the golden calf?
Biblical narrative The Israelites feared that he would not return and demanded that Aaron make them “a god to go before them”. Moses burnt the golden calf in a fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on water, and forced the Israelites to drink it.
What can we learn about the golden calf?
The Bible tells us that after the Israelites make the golden calf, God tells Moses to “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.” God doesn’t say my people, but your people. We don’t know why the Israelites had such a weak moment.
Where did Aaron get the gold to make the golden calf?
He made them because of the hardness of heart of the people. Where did Aaron get the gold to make the golden calf? From the peoples earrings.
How big was the golden calf in Exodus?
about 4 1/2 inches long
The calf is about 4 1/2 inches long, 4 1/4 inches tall and weighs just under one pound. The figure is well articulated and was formed in parts. The legs, horns, tail and other parts were attached in sockets, and they are of different metals.
What is the calf in the Quran?
According to the twentieth chapter of the Quran, Samiri created the calf while Moses was away for 40 days on Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments. In contrast to the account given in the Hebrew Bible, the Quran does not blame Aaron for the calf’s creation.
Why did Moses break the tablets?
According to the foregoing, Moses wished to punish the Israelites severely, when he beheld that they were unworthy of the precious gift he carried. By their rash deed they had broken the covenant between them and their Father in heaven. He therefore broke them at the foot of the mount in front of them.
What is the difference between Moses and Aaron?
Although Moses was the actual leader, Aaron acted as his “mouth.” The two brothers went to the pharaoh together, and it was Aaron who told him to let the people of Israel go, using his magic rod in order to show the might of YHWH (God).
Was the golden calf ever found?
According to the American team that discovered the calf on June 26, it is the only one of its kind ever found and provides important evidence to help explain religious development in this region. It was dated by examination of the pottery and other artifacts found alongside it, a standard archeological practice.
Do the Ten Commandments tablets still exist?
Earliest known stone version of Ten Commandments sold for $850,000. Described as a “national treasure” of Israel, the stone was first uncovered in 1913 during excavations for a railroad station near Yavneh in Israel and is the only intact tablet version of the Commandments thought to exist.
Did Moses and Aaron have the same father?
Aaron is described in the Book of Exodus of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) as a son of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi, three years older than his brother Moses.
Who was the person who created the Golden Calf?
Micah, a member of the erev rav whose life had been saved by Moses, created the calf. When the Jewish people were leaving Egypt, Moses went to collect Joseph ’s coffin to fulfill his request that his remains be redeemed together with the Jews.
Why did the Jews build the Golden Calf?
The Jews built the golden calf in an attempt to create the ultimate dwelling place for G‑d. They wanted to draw G‑dliness all the way down into the world. They knew that one day G‑d would tell Moses that the Jews should build Him a sanctuary, and that they should construct keruvim .
What was the consequence of the Golden Calf?
Based on Hebrew Bible narrative, the consequence of the sin of the golden calf was the desire by God to annihilate the entire congregation. It was due to the successful prayer of Moses and the retribution meted out by the tribe of Levi from the inciters of the sin that appeased the anger of God.
Where is the Golden Calf mentioned in the Bible?
In Hebrew, the incident is known as ḥēṭ’ ha‘ēggel (חֵטְא הַעֵגֶּל) or the Sin of the Calf. It is first mentioned in Exodus 32:4 .