They rose up early on the next day, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. They offered, by the hands of Aaron, to whom the Septuagint refer all this. “He offered,” and so forth appearing at the head of the idolaters. A Lapide insinuates, that he wished to supplant his brother in the supreme command; and after a faint resistance, became the promoter of idolatry, to ingratiate himself with the people. The Scripture lays not this, however, to his charge. Calmet.—To eat of the victims.—To play, dancing and singing in honour of their idol, probably with many indecent gestures, as was customary on such occasions among the nations of Chanaan. Bible.—Tertullian (de jejunio) understands impure play. The word means also to dance, and to play on instruments of music. Ludere quæ vellem calamo permisit agresti. Virg. Ec. i. Calmet.—Sulpitius says, the people abandoned themselves to drunkenness and gluttony, or debauchery, vinoque se & ventri dedisset. Bible.—They might get wine from Madian. Salien.—Foolish mirth is the daughter of gluttony, and the mother of idolatry. Saint Gregory Mor. xxxi. 31. Worthington.