He took the calf which they had made, and burned it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 20. Calf. Having manifested his disapprobation of the people’s conduct, in the most signal manner, by breaking the two tables; Moses proceeds to convince them of their stupidity, in adoring what he, in a few minutes, reduces to powder. Bible.—He breaks the calf in pieces, after burning it, and then grinds it to dust in a mill, with files; as the Hebrew Chal. and Septuagint intimate. He throws it, with contempt, into the torrent, which supplied the camp with water, and thus caused the idolaters to swallow their god. Tirinus.—Sa assures us, that he saw an alchymist pulverize gold, which Abenezra says is done by means of some herbs, which turn the gold quite black, when it is melted. Calmet.—Some use aquafortis for this purpose. Tirinus.—But from the account of Moses, (Deuteronomy 9:21,) it seems fire, and the mille, or file, reduced the gold into the smallest particles, so as to be even potable. Josephus (viii. 2,) mentions the gold dust used by the courtiers of Solomon. Calmet.