And the Lord plagued the people— It might be rendered, thus the Lord punished the people, because they had made the calf which Aaron made; a mode of expression, which involves them and Aaron in equal guilt; and shews, that they who command an evil thing to be done, are equally criminal with the doers of it; see Acts 1:18. The Samaritan, Syriac, &c. render this, because they worshipped the calf which Aaron made.
REFLECTIONS.—It was, no doubt, a melancholy night which Israel spent. The morning comes, and Moses goes forth,
1. To admonish the people of the greatness of their sin. Though God had not executed vengeance on all the idolaters, it was not that they did not all deserve it. Whether God would spare the rest, was yet a peradventure; and therefore it became them to be deeply affected with the sense of their ingratitude, whilst he offered once more to go up to God, and plead for them. Note; (1.) To affect the conscience with a sense of sin, should be the first labour of God's ministers. (2.) The atonement which the Saviour has made for sin, shews in the most astonishing view its evil and malignity. (3.) It is our comfort, that he who is gone up with his own blood into the presence of God to make atonement, not only gives us the peradventure of hope, but the assurance of promise. (4.) It is still our duty to be found waiting upon him in prayer, that we may receive the atonement.
2. He goes up to the mount, and prays. He confesses the greatness of the crime: for it is not by extenuating, but by acknowledging our guilt, that we may hope for mercy. He begs hard for pardon; but, if he cannot obtain it, he begs to fall with them, rather than survive the afflicting scene. Note; The welfare of God's Israel is dearer to God's ministers than every consideration of their own, yea, even than their own life: they are ready to lay down that for their sake.
3. God graciously receives his intercession, and grants his request, with some alarming threatenings however against the transgressors: they shall notwithstanding feel his visitations.