Sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play— That is, as St. Paul explains it, 1 Corinthians 10:7 they committed idolatry; performing all those ceremonies, feasting, dancing, (Exodus 32:19.) and sporting lasciviously, which were usual in the worship of idols.
REFLECTIONS.—Aaron, instead of shewing indignation at the proposal, infamously tame, consents to gratify them.
1. He asks for their golden ear-rings, which, however dear to them, they readily part with; for when men are set on sin they stop at nothing, and think they never pay too dear for the gratification. Note; It is a bad sign, if we are less ready to part with our gold to forward God's cause than they were to part with theirs to dishonour him. These ear-rings were the spoils of the Egyptians, with which God had so lately enriched them; and now they are abused to the vilest idolatry. How often do the gifts of God thus prove a snare to us, and engage our idolatrous affections to them, so as to prove a curse instead of a blessing!
2. An altar is built, and a feast proclaimed to Jehovah: for they designed not to terminate their worship in the calf, but regarded it as the representation of the true God; though this we find was no exculpation of their guilt. Let the Roman Catholics see in their image-worship how exactly conformable is their conduct, and equally abominable their idolatry.
3. The people gladly obey the summons, and rejoice in the work of their own hands. The day is spent in feasting, mirth, and jollity. Such service could not suit Jehovah; but as the calf was the idol, their belly seems to have been their god. Note; Though the calf is no more, his worshippers are still numerous, if such be the service, to sit down to eat and drink, and rise up to play.