Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 32:12
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
12. For evil ] i.e. with an evil purpose. Cf. Deu 9:28 b.
the mountains ] viz. of the Sinaitic Peninsula.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In the mountains, i.e. in or at Mount Sinai, the plural number for the singular; or, in this mountainous desert.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say,…. Those that remained, as the Targum of Jonathan, who were not drowned in the Red sea: a good man will be concerned for the honour and glory of God among the enemies of his people, that their mouths may not be opened to blaspheme the Lord and speak ill of his ways, see Jos 7:9 and this is sometimes an argument with God himself, not to do that to his people they deserve, lest it should give occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully, insult, and triumph, De 32:26
for mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth; that he brought them out of Egypt, not with a good but ill design; not to bring them into the land of Canaan, as they promised themselves, but to destroy them in the mountains; not to erect them into a great kingdom and nation, which should make a considerable figure in the world, but to cut them off from being a people at all: the mountains where they now were, were Sinai and Horeb, and there might be others thereabout, among which they were encamped: the Targum of Jonathan is,
“among the mountains of Tabor, and Hermon, and Sirion, and Sinai:”
turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people; not that there is any turning or shadow of turning with God, or any change of his mind, or any such passions and affections in him as here expressed; but this is said after the manner of men concerning him, when he alters the course of his dealings with men according to his unalterable will, and does not do the evil threatened by him, and which the sins of men deserve.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Exo 32:12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
Ver. 12. Repent of this evil. ] God’s repenting is mutatio rei, non Dei; effectus, non affectus; facti, non consilii; not a change of his will, but of his work.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6).
mischief, or wrong-doing. Hebrew. r’a’a. App-44. repent. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6).
evil. Hebrew. r’a’a. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
repent
(See Scofield “Zec 8:14”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
should: Num 14:13-16, Deu 9:28, Deu 32:26, Deu 32:27, Jos 7:9, Psa 74:18, Psa 79:9, Psa 79:10, Eze 20:9, Eze 20:14, Eze 20:22
Turn from: Deu 13:17, Jos 7:26, Ezr 10:14, Psa 78:38, Psa 85:3
repent: Exo 32:14, Gen 6:6, Deu 32:36, Psa 90:13, Psa 106:45, Amo 7:3, Amo 7:6, Jon 3:9, Zec 8:14
Reciprocal: Deu 6:15 – destroy 1Sa 12:22 – for his great 1Ki 8:51 – thy people Job 23:4 – fill my mouth Psa 115:2 – General Isa 63:11 – Where is he that brought Jer 18:8 – I will Jer 28:16 – I will Eze 13:5 – have not Amo 7:2 – O Lord
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 32:12-13. Turn from thy fierce wrath Not as if he thought God were not justly angry, but he begs that he would not be so greatly angry as to consume them. Let mercy rejoice against judgment; repent of this evil Change the sentence of destruction into that of correction; against thy people Which thou broughtest up out of Egypt, for whom thou hast done so great things. Wherefore should the Egyptians say, For mischief did he bring them out Israel is dear to Moses, as his kindred, as his charge; but it is the glory of God that he is most concerned for. If Israel could perish without any reproach to Gods name, Moses could persuade himself to sit down contented; but he cannot bear to hear God reflected on; and therefore this he insists upon, Lord, what will the Egyptians say? They will say, God was either weak, and could not, or fickle, and would not complete the salvation he begun. Remember Abraham Lord, if Israel be cut off, what will become of the promise?