1
Ex 32:1-35.
英文原文
Ex 32:1-35.
THE GOLDEN CALF.
1. when the people saw that Moses delayed--They supposed that he had lost his way in the darkness or perished in the fire.
the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron--rather, "against" Aaron in a tumultuous manner, to compel him to do what they wished. The incidents related in this chapter disclose a state of popular sentiment and feeling among the Israelites that stands in singular contrast to the tone of profound and humble reverence they displayed at the giving of the law. Within a space of little more than thirty days, their impressions were dissipated. Although they were still encamped upon ground which they had every reason to regard as holy; although the cloud of glory that capped the summit of Sinai was still before their eyes, affording a visible demonstration of their being in close contact, or rather in the immediate presence, of God, they acted as if they had entirely forgotten the impressive scenes of which they had been so recently the witnesses.
said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us--The Hebrew word rendered "gods" is simply the name of God in its plural form. The image made was single, and therefore it would be imputing to the Israelites a greater sin than they were guilty of, to charge them with renouncing the worship of the true God for idols. The fact is, that they required, like children, to have something to strike their senses, and as the Shekinah, "the glory of God," of which they had hitherto enjoyed the sight, was now veiled, they wished for some visible material object as the symbol of the divine presence, which should go before them as the pillar of fire had done.
2
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2. 亞倫對他們說……摘下你們……耳環——年輕男子戴耳環並非埃及的習俗，因此這情形似乎指出那「混雜的烏合之眾」——主要是外邦奴隸——是這次叛亂的魁首。亞倫吩咐他們摘下耳環，可能是想拖延時間；或可能指望他們的貪婪與愛美之心勝過其拜偶像的傾向。若他果然如此期盼，那必大失所望。他本應當平心靜氣、懇切地勸諫他們，或當以職責為先而以權宜為後，將結果交託給上帝的旨意。
英文原文
2. Aaron said, . . . Break off . . . earrings--It was not an Egyptian custom for young men to wear earrings, and the circumstance, therefore, seems to point out "the mixed rabble," who were chiefly foreign slaves, as the ringleaders in this insurrection. In giving direction to break their earrings, Aaron probably calculated on gaining time; or, perhaps, on their covetousness and love of finery proving stronger than their idolatrous propensity. If such were his expectations, they were doomed to signal disappointment. Better to have calmly and earnestly remonstrated with them, or to have preferred duty to expediency, leaving the issue in the hands of Providence.
3
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3. 百姓就摘下他們金耳環——從古埃及浮雕所見，埃及的戒指是圓而厚實的金屬片；以色列人所戴的既是這類戒指，在普遍收集之下，其大小與數量必能產生一大批貴金屬。
英文原文
3. all the people brake off the golden earrings--The Egyptian rings, as seen on the monuments, were round massy plates of metal; and as they were rings of this sort the Israelites wore, their size and number must, in the general collection, have produced a large store of the precious metal.
4
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4. 用雕刻的器具做成，做成一隻牛犢——這話的詞序是顛倒的，應當譯作：「他用雕刻的器具塑出所要造的形像，將液態金子倒入模中，做成了一隻牛犢」。經文未說明牠是否與實物同樣大小，是實心金子還是木架上包以金片。這偶像似乎是埃及人的主神阿皮斯（Apis）——在孟菲斯以三歲活公牛的形式受敬拜。其特徵是額上有三角形白斑及其他特殊標記。其整牛形像、或竿頭上的牛犢頭形像，十分常見；在古埃及浮雕上占有顯著地位，被描繪在一切遊行隊伍的前頭，由人高舉在肩上扛著。
他們說：以色列啊，這是領你出埃及地的神——很難想像，他們幾週前才見證真上帝如此驚人的作為，竟會突然墮落到如此昏昧而禽獸般愚蠢的地步，以為人的手藝或人手能造出一位在他們前面行的神。但必須記住：他們雖蒙揀選、名義上是上帝的子民，但在感情與習慣、品味與喜好上，與埃及人幾乎毫無分別。他們的意思是要以這牛犢作為耶和華的形像、一個可見的記號或象徵；因此他們的罪不在於違背了第一誡
〔出 20:3〕， 而在於違背了第二誡
〔出 20:4-6〕。
英文原文
4. fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf--The words are transposed, and the rendering should be, "he framed with a graving tool the image to be made, and having poured the liquid gold into the mould, he made it a molten calf." It is not said whether it was of life size, whether it was of solid gold or merely a wooden frame covered with plates of gold. This idol seems to have been the god Apis, the chief deity of the Egyptians, worshipped at Memphis under the form of a live ox, three years old. It was distinguished by a triangular white spot on its forehead and other peculiar marks. Images of it in the form of a whole ox, or of a calf's head on the end of a pole, were very common; and it makes a great figure on the monuments where it is represented in the van of all processions, as borne aloft on men's shoulders.
they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt--It is inconceivable that they, who but a few weeks before had witnessed such amazing demonstrations of the true God, could have suddenly sunk to such a pitch of infatuation and brutish stupidity, as to imagine that human art or hands could make a god that should go before them. But it must be borne in mind, that though by election and in name they were the people of God, they were as yet, in feelings and associations, in habits and tastes, little, if at all different, from Egyptians. They meant the calf to be an image, a visible sign or symbol of Jehovah, so that their sin consisted not in a breach of the FIRST
[Ex 20:3],
but of the SECOND commandment
[Ex 20:4-6].
5
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5, 6. 亞倫宣告說：明日要向耶和華守節——這是一個值得注意的情況，強有力地印證了上述見解：他們並未放棄對耶和華的敬拜，而是按照埃及人的觀念，造了一個他們所熟悉的形像，作為上帝同在的可見象徵。但其中似乎也夾雜著異教節期那種放縱狂歡的成分。
英文原文
5, 6. Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow is a feast to the Lord--a remarkable circumstance, strongly confirmatory of the view that they had not renounced the worship of Jehovah, but in accordance with Egyptian notions, had formed an image with which they had been familiar, to be the visible symbol of the divine presence. But there seems to have been much of the revelry that marked the feasts of the heathen.
7
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7-14. 耶和華對摩西說：下去吧——山腳下所演出的拜偶像場景，是用借用自人的情緒與感受的語言傳達給摩西的；而一位被公正地得罪的上帝之審判，以恰當的義怒之語發出，針對那對剛剛頒布的律法之公然違反。
英文原文
7-14. the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down--Intelligence of the idolatrous scene enacted at the foot of the mount was communicated to Moses in language borrowed from human passions and feelings, and the judgment of a justly offended God was pronounced in terms of just indignation against the gross violation of the so recently promulgated laws.
10
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10. 我必使你的後裔成為大國——必須小心，不要以為這話表示上帝旨意有任何改變或動搖。與列祖所立的約已以最莊嚴的方式批准；它不可能、也從未有意被破壞。但上帝對摩西說話的方式卻達到了兩個重要的目的——它有助於發展這位希伯來領袖的信心與代求的愛國之心，並激發百姓嚴肅的警覺：上帝會棄絕他們、剝奪他們自以為穩妥享有的特權。
英文原文
10. make of thee a great nation--Care must be taken not to suppose this language as betokening any change or vacillation in the divine purpose. The covenant made with the patriarchs had been ratified in the most solemn manner; it could not and never was intended that it should be broken. But the manner in which God spoke to Moses served two important purposes--it tended to develop the faith and intercessory patriotism of the Hebrew leader, and to excite the serious alarm of the people, that God would reject them and deprive them of the privileges they had fondly fancied were so secure.
15
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15-18. 摩西轉身下山——Er-Raheh 平原從 Jebel Musa 山頂看不見，也不能從朝向那谷地的一側下山；因此摩西與其同伴——他在值勤時在山麓的窪地耐心等候他回來——在實際看見營地之前的一段時間便聽見了呼喊聲。
英文原文
15-18. Moses turned, and went down from the mount--The plain, Er-Raheh, is not visible from the top of Jebel Musa, nor can the mount be descended on the side towards that valley; hence Moses and his companion, who on duty had patiently waited his return in the hollow of the mountain's brow, heard the shouting some time before they actually saw the camp.
19
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19. 摩西發烈怒，把兩塊版扔下——領袖的到來如同鬼魅的顯現，在狂歡者狂歡之中制止了他們；他義怒之舉——將律法的版摔在地上，表明他們既如此迅速背離了盟約關係，上帝也可撤回祂所應許給他們的特別特權——這一舉動連同隨後的嚴厲措施，構成了聖經歷史中所記最令人矚目的場景之一。
英文原文
19. Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands--The arrival of the leader, like the appearance of a specter, arrested the revellers in the midst of their carnival, and his act of righteous indignation when he dashed on the ground the tables of the law, in token that as they had so soon departed from their covenant relation, so God could withdraw the peculiar privileges that He had promised them--that act, together with the rigorous measures that followed, forms one of the most striking scenes recorded in sacred history.
20
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20. 他將他們所鑄的牛犢用火焚燒等語——有人推測金子被 natron 或某種化學物質溶解。但此處或
申 9:21
均未提及溶解；它是「在火中焚燒」，為要鑄成適合以下操作大小的錠——「磨得粉碎」；延展性金屬的粉末可以磨得細如蛾或蝴蝶翅膀上的粉塵；這些粉塵顆粒可在水中漂浮數小時、在流水中漂浮數日。這些磨碎的操作是為了表示對如此無用之神的蔑視，而以色列人會因其一段時間所喝的水的狀態而被提醒這羞辱的功課〔NAPIER〕。另有人認為，偶像崇拜的節日通常以大量甜酒的使用結束，金粉那令人作嘔的飲料必是嚴厲的刑罰
（比較 王下 23:6, 15；代下 15:16；34:7）。
英文原文
20. he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, &c.--It has been supposed that the gold was dissolved by natron or some chemical substance. But there is no mention of solubility here, or in
De 9:21;
it was "burned in the fire," to cast it into ingots of suitable size for the operations which follow--"grounded to powder"; the powder of malleable metals can be ground so fine as to resemble dust from the wings of a moth or butterfly; and these dust particles will float in water for hours, and in a running stream for days. These operations of grinding were intended to show contempt for such worthless gods, and the Israelites would be made to remember the humiliating lesson by the state of the water they had drunk for a time [NAPIER]. Others think that as the idolatrous festivals were usually ended with great use of sweet wine, the nauseous draught of the gold dust would be a severe punishment (compare
2Ki 23:6, 15; 2Ch 15:16; 34:7).
22
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22. 亞倫說：求我主不要發烈怒——亞倫的表現相當可憐，作出含糊推託的藉口，流露出的對摩西怒氣的恐懼甚於對耶和華的敬畏
（比較 申 9:20）。
英文原文
22. And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot--Aaron cuts a poor figure, making a shuffling excuse and betraying more dread of the anger of Moses than of the Lord (compare
De 9:20).
25
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25. 放肆——即失去武裝與防衛，或因罪咎之感而無羞恥。有人認為他們是字面上的赤身露體，因為埃及人在舉行某些儀式時，就是以那種不雅的方式進行的。
英文原文
25. naked--either unarmed and defenseless, or ashamed from a sense of guilt. Some think they were literally naked, as the Egyptians performed some of their rites in that indecent manner.
26
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26-28. 摩西站在營門中說——一般推測，自從亞瑪力人來襲之後，營地周圍便築有營壘為防。
凡屬耶和華的，都要到我這裏來——摩西面對一群醉後暴民，竟能展現出如此的熱忱與膽量，實在驚人。百姓於是分為兩隊：那些在維護偶像崇拜上最為激烈頑固的，盡被治死；其餘因羞愧或憂愁而退去的，則蒙寬免。
英文原文
26-28. Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said--The camp is supposed to have been protected by a rampart after the attack of the Amalekites.
Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me--The zeal and courage of Moses was astonishing, considering he opposed an intoxicated mob. The people were separated into two divisions, and those who were the boldest and most obstinate in vindicating their idolatry were put to death, while the rest, who withdrew in shame or sorrow, were spared.
29
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29. 今天你們要自潔歸耶和華——或作「你們今天已經自潔歸耶和華了」。利未人雖處於亞倫的灰心沮喪之中，卻因對上帝榮耀的熱心、以及此次充當行刑者的表現而卓然出眾；這也是他們被任命擔任聖所事奉中崇高而尊榮職分的原因之一。
英文原文
29. Consecrate yourselves to-day to the Lord--or, "Ye have consecrated yourselves to-day." The Levites, notwithstanding the dejection of Aaron, distinguished themselves by their zeal for the honor of God and their conduct in doing the office of executioners on this occasion; and this was one reason that they were appointed to a high and honorable office in the service of the sanctuary.
30
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30-33. 摩西對百姓說：你們犯了大罪——摩西竭力向百姓指明其罪的嚴重性，並引導他們悔改。但他並不以此為滿足，更迫切地為他們代求。
英文原文
30-33. Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin--Moses labored to show the people the heinous nature of their sin, and to bring them to repentance. But not content with that, he hastened more earnestly to intercede for them.
32
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32. 從你所寫的冊上塗抹我的名——暗指生者的登記，以及將死者之名塗抹。他對弟兄所流露的，是何等的深情！當他表示願意為他們而死，他完全被真正愛國者的精神所激勵。然而基督卻實實在在地為祂的百姓死了
（羅 5:8）。
英文原文
32. blot me . . . out of thy book--an allusion to the registering of the living, and erasing the names of those who die. What warmth of affection did he evince for his brethren! How fully was he animated with the true spirit of a patriot, when he professed his willingness to die for them. But Christ actually died for His people
(Ro 5:8).
35
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35. 耶和華殺百姓的緣故，因為他們造了牛犢——沒有立即降下刑罰，但這次早期的背道拜偶像，日後每逢提及，總被列為加重其後來背道之罪的情節。
英文原文
35. the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf--No immediate judgments were inflicted, but this early lapse into idolatry was always mentioned as an aggravation of their subsequent apostasies.
Ex 32:1-35.
金牛犢。
1. 百姓見摩西遲延不下來——他們以為他在黑暗中迷了路，或在火中喪了命。
百姓聚集到亞倫那裏——更恰當地說「聚集對抗亞倫」，以喧嚷暴動的方式，要脅他行他們所願。本章所記的事件，揭示了以色列人當中一種民間情緒與感受的狀態，與他們在領受律法時所表現那種深沉而謙卑敬畏的態度，形成奇特的對比。在短短三十多日之內，他們的印象便消散了。雖然他們仍然紮營在有充分理由視為聖潔的地土上；雖然那籠罩西奈山頂的榮光雲彩仍在他們眼前，為他們與上帝密切接觸、甚至就在上帝面前提供可見的明證，他們卻行事如同完全忘記了自己不久前才親眼所見那些令人難忘的景象。
對他說：起來，為我們造神像，可以在我們前面引路——希伯來文中譯作「神像」一詞，其實只是上帝之名的複數形式。所造的像是單一的，因此若指控以色列人為偶像而放棄對真上帝的敬拜，便是將比他們實際所犯更大的罪歸給他們。事實是：他們如同孩童一般，需要某樣能刺激感官的東西；而既然他們素來得見其景象的「舍金那」——即「上帝的榮耀」——如今已被隱藏，他們便想要某個可見的物質對象，作為上帝同在的象徵，可以在他們前面引路，如同火柱先前所行的那樣。