Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Chapter 32 · Questions · Question 17
QUEST. XVII. Why Aaron caused the likenesse of a calfe to be made, rather than of any other thing.
Vers. 4. A Molten calfe. 1. Some of the Hebrewes give this ridiculous reason, why the image of a calfe was made rather, than of any other thing: when the Israelites were comming out of Egypt, and intended to bring out Iosephs bones with them, as they did, they say Nilus had overflowen the place where his bones were, and so Moses did make the picture of a calfe in a certaine golden plate, which floting upon the water shewed the place where Iosephs bones lay: which plate, they say, was brought among other jewels to Aaron here, and cast into the fire, by vertue whereof the whole masse of gold was turned into the shape of a calfe. But here are many fables couched together. 1. It is a very tale, that Iosephs bones were found out by any such meanes. 2. The people onelyonly brought their golden earings, therefore no such plate. 3. Neither was there any such vertue in that golden plate, if there had beene any such to convert or change the whole masse. 4. Neither was there any such cause, seeing the molten calfe was cast in a mould, Opere fusario, by Founders worke, as the Latine translator readeth.
2. R. Abraham seemeth to thinke that this figure of a calfe was made, rather than any other, as ap…est at that time to receive some divine and celestiall influence: but though Aaron were at this present grossely blinded and deceived, yet it were impietie to thinke that he was given to such superstitious astrologicall observations, as to make figures to derive some secret supernaturall influence and vertue into, by the celestiall constellations.
3. Some thinke, that Aaron caused a calfe to be made, to deride them, as Helias did Baals Priests, supposing they would not be so absurd, as to ascribe divine vertue unto a calfe, Procopius. But it seemeth that Aaron was in good earnest, by that which followeth, in that he set up an Altar, and proclaimed an holy day.
4. It is further alleaged by some, that Aaron intended not to make any thing of the gold, thinking that the fire might consume it: but that the Egyptians which were in the campe by their art Magike, and by the operation of the devill, caused the image of a calfe to come forth, Ex Fero. But it may appeare, vers. 24. by Aarons confession unto Moses, that he intended to make them an image, when he cast the mettall into the fire: and to what end else served the graving toole, but to fashion it? he would not have polished and trimmed the devils worke.
5. Some further thinke they would have a calfe made, because the sacrifices of bullocks are the chiefest: and thereby they thought the better to please God. But it is not like that they had any such purpose at this time to doe that which was pleasing unto God, seeing they had heard not long before the Lord by his owne mouth forbidding them to make any kinde of image to worship.
6. It is therefore most like, that Aaron according to the desire of the people, made a Calfe like unto the Egyptian god Apis, which they had seene the Egyptians to worship: and therefore they were drawne by the corrupt imitation of them, to have the image of a Calfe made, Lyran. Calvin. Simler. Gallas. Augustine addeth further, that the Egyptians had set up the image of an oxe or bullocke by Iosephs tombe,Lib. 1. mirabil. sacr. Script. c. 25. which they worshipped. So the Interlin…ry glosse giveth this reason: Quia bovem adoraverunt in Aegypto; Because they had used to worship a bullocke in Egypt. And the Egyptians used to worship their King being dead, under the forme of a live bullocke, Plin. lib. 8. cap. 46.