And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
When the people heard these evil tidings - from Moses on his descent from the mount. God, indeed, had promised (Exodus 33:14) that He would not inflict upon them the punishment either of national destruction or the threatened withdrawal of His symbolical presence. But that promise was made to Moses privately. It was necessary that the menace of so terrible a calamity should be publicly announced to the people, the more especially as their exemption from it was suspended on their exhibiting a humble and contrite spirit.