Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 32:2
And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me.
2. of your sons ] earrings are not elsewhere in the OT. described as worn by males (unless indeed, by implication, in Gen 35:4).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Golden ear-rings] Both men and women wore these ornaments, and we may suppose that these were a part of the spoils which they brought out of Egypt. How strange, that the very things which were granted them by an especial influence and providence of God, should be now abused to the basest idolatrous purposes! But it is frequently the case that the gifts of God become desecrated by being employed in the service of sin; I will curse your blessings, saith the Lord, Mal 2:2.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The golden earrings were of good value and common use among the eastern people, who seem to have used them superstitiously, Gen 35:4; Jdg 8:24; and therefore Aaron demands these, partly that he might take away one vice, or occasion of vice, whilst the people were intent upon another; and partly that the proposed loss of their precious earrings might cool their idolatrous desires.
In the ears of your wives, whom he thought most fond of their jewels, and most unlikely to part with them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Aaron said, . . . Break off . . .earringsIt was not an Egyptian custom for young men to wearearrings, and the circumstance, therefore, seems to point out “themixed rabble,” who were chiefly foreign slaves, as theringleaders in this insurrection. In giving direction to break theirearrings, Aaron probably calculated on gaining time; or, perhaps, ontheir covetousness and love of finery proving stronger than theiridolatrous propensity. If such were his expectations, they weredoomed to signal disappointment. Better to have calmly and earnestlyremonstrated with them, or to have preferred duty to expediency,leaving the issue in the hands of Providence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Aaron said unto them,…. Perceiving that they were not to be dissuaded from their evil counsel, and diverted from their purpose, but were determined at all events to have an image made to represent God unto them in a visible manner:
break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters; these were some of the jewels in gold they had borrowed of the Egyptians; and it seems that, in those times and countries, men, as well as women, used to wear earrings, and so Pliny w says, in the eastern countries men used to wear gold in their ears; and this may be confirmed from the instance of the Ishmaelites and Midianites, Jud 8:24. Aaron did not ask the men for theirs, but for those of their wives and children; it may be, because he might suppose they were more fond of them, and would not so easily part with them, hoping by this means to have put them off of their design:
and bring [them] unto me; to make a god of, as they desired, that is, the representation of one.
w Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 37.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden ear-rings. I doubt not but that Aaron, being overcome by the importunate clamor of the people, endeavored to escape by means of a subterfuge; still, this is no valid excuse for him, since he ought to have heartily opposed them in a direct reply, and sharply to have inveighed against their wicked renunciation of God. By commanding them to give him gold, he might have quieted their intemperate demands through dread of the expense; but it was a remedy more likely to be successful, to snatch from them those ornaments and trinkets of which women do not willingly allow themselves to be deprived. He therefore purposely requires of them a hateful, or at any rate a by no means pleasant thing, that he might thus impede their sinful design; but without success, for the power of superstition to carry people away is not less than that of lust. Perhaps also he had the tabernacle in view, lest they should sacrilegiously proceed to lay hands on the sacred vessels; and there was a probability that, if it remained uninjured, the sight of it might at length recall them to a better mind. Besides, the recollection of their recent profuse liberality might have extinguished or cooled their ardor, from the fear of being utterly drained. He says emphatically, “Break (327) off the ear-rings from your wives and children,” that they may desist from the purpose out of dread of giving offense, since women are slow to part with such objects of gratification. But it is added immediately afterwards, that they were so blinded by the fervor of their foolish zeal, that they undervalued everything in comparison with their perverse desire, and thus the ornaments were taken from their ears. The readiness with which this was done was wonderful; and not by one person, or by a few, but by the whole people, as if in rivalry of each other. Even in these days ear-rings are worn by the (328) Orientals, though it is not so common among us. Now, if unbelievers are so prodigal in their absurdities as to throw away thus carelessly and rashly whatever is precious to them, how shall their tenacity be excusable who are so niggardly in providing for the service of God? Hence let us learn to beware of foolishly squandering our possessions in unnecessary expenditure, and to be liberal where we ought; especially to be ready to spend ourselves, and what we have, when we know that our offerings are pleasing and acceptable to God.
(327) Auferte. — Lat.
(328) “The ear-rings now worn in the East are various in form and size. They are generally thick, sometimes fitting close to the ear, and in other instances very large, perhaps three or four inches in diameter, and so heavy as greatly to distend the lobe of the ear, at the same time enlarging in a very disagreeable manner the orifice made for the inserting of the ring.” — Illustrated Commentary in loco.
For the ear-rings worn by the Egyptian Ladies, see Sir G. Wilkinson, “Popular Account of the Ancient Egyptians,” vol. 1, p. 145, where he figures a group of them from Thebes evidently talking about their ear-rings; and vol. 2, p. 335, etc.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) And Aaron said . . . Break off the golden earrings.It is a reasonable conjecture that Aaron thought to prevent the projected idolatry by this requirement. Not having the courage to meet the demand of the people with a direct negative, he may have aimed at diverting them from their purpose by requiring a sacrifice which they would be unwilling to make, viz., the personal ornaments of their wives and children. The women might reasonably have been expected to resist, and the men to yield before such resistance; but the event proved otherwise.
Your sons.Earrings are worn in the East almost as much by men as by women. Most Assyrian and some Egyptian monarchs are represented with them.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Break off the golden earrings A strong expression, as if implying that the act involved some measure of violence, or, at least, an effort and sacrifice on their part . The prevailing view has been that Aaron, anxious to dissuade the people from their purpose, proposed this great sacrifice on their part in hope that they would thereupon withdraw their demand upon him to make them a god . This is not an improbable view, and is favoured by Aaron’s apology before Moses in Exo 32:22-24. But the facts here recorded, as well as Numbers 12, exhibit the moral weakness of Aaron . He did well as Moses’s spokesman, (Exo 4:14-16,) but sadly lacked the sterling qualities of a great spiritual leader. Specimens of ancient earrings are shown in the annexed cut.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 32:2. Ear-ringsof your sons It is well known that, in the Eastern countries, the men wore these kinds of ornaments as well as the women. See Jdg 8:24. They were, probably, part of the spoils which they had brought from Egypt, and which they now shamefully employ to the dishonour of their God. It does not appear from the history, how long time was employed in making this calf.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Did Aaron consent to their impious proposal through fear? Pro 29:25 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 32:2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me.
Ver. “2. Brake off the golden ear-rings.] Hereby he hoped to break their design; but all in vain for they were “mad upon their idols.” Jer 50:38
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 12:35, Exo 12:36, Gen 24:22, Gen 24:47, Jdg 8:24-27, Eze 16:11, Eze 16:12, Eze 16:17, Hos 2:8
Reciprocal: Gen 35:4 – earrings Exo 11:2 – jewels Exo 23:23 – mine Angel Deu 9:20 – General Psa 99:8 – though Ecc 4:10 – if Isa 3:20 – the earrings Isa 30:22 – thy graven images of silver Isa 40:19 – General Isa 46:6 – lavish Dan 3:1 – made Act 7:41 – they Heb 5:2 – is compassed 1Pe 3:3 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 32:2. Break off the golden ear-rings These were probably some of the jewels which they had of the Egyptians. From the ears of your sons Men wore these ornaments in the eastern countries as well as the women, Jdg 8:24. Some suppose that when Aaron gave this direction he did it with a design to crush the proposal, believing, that if their covetousness did not hinder them from giving up their ear-rings, their pride, at least, would prevent their parting with them. He says, therefore, Which are in the ears of your wives and daughters Thinking them most fond of their jewels, and most unlikely to part with them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
32:2 And Aaron said unto them, {b} Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me.
(b) Thinking that they would rather abandon idolatry, than give up their most precious jewels.