Exodus 32:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.

NIV: Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.

NASB: Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘With evil motives He brought them out, to kill them on the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and relent of doing harm to Your people.

CSB: Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and eliminate them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for your people.

NLT: Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people!

KJV: Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

NKJV: Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people.

Some sentences end with question marks but are not really questions. Some statements are not plans, but reminders of what that person is capable of. In this conversation, both God and Moses use these techniques. The Lord is justly angry with Israel for committing idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6). While no longer calling them "my people" (Exodus 3:7; 6:7; 12:31; 32:7, 9), the Lord also said that He could wipe them out.

Here, Moses replies with the same rhetorical device. Destroying Israel would make everything God did in Egypt nearly pointless. Rather than Israel being an example of divine power, and His clearly chosen instrument (Deuteronomy 14:2), theirs would be a strange story with no meaning. As did Abraham (Genesis 18:27–33), Moses "asks" the Lord if He plans to break His prior promise. He does so knowing that the answer is "no."

Exodus 32:7–14 describes the Lord's anger at Israel for their idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6). While Moses is away (Exodus 24:18), the people have begun to worship a golden statue. God suggests He will eradicate Israel and only spare Moses. Moses pleads with God, who stops discussing this reaction. This resembles how God graciously talked through the issue of Sodom with Abraham, to make a statement about divine justice (Genesis 18:27–33).

During Moses' long absence (Exodus 24:18), the Israelites lose patience. They demand that Aaron (Exodus 24:14) make them a god they can see. Aaron makes a gold idol from donated jewelry and the people worship it as God. On the mountain, God is furious and sends Moses back. Moses arrives, breaks the stone tablets of God's law which he carried, and destroys the idol. Moses then calls on loyal men to execute those responsible. Aaron is spared, but Israel can anticipate more punishment.

Moses went onto Sinai to communicate with the Lord (Exodus 24:12) and has been gone a long time (Exodus 24:18). He is receiving instructions from God (Exodus 25—31). Meanwhile, Israel falls into idolatry. They break the first two commandments just given at Sinai (Exodus 20:3–6). After delivering initial consequences, God commands Israel to move along and discusses how He will renew His covenant (Exodus 33—34).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.