Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/199



OSES again  ascended  the  mountain,  and  remained  there forty days and  forty  nights  conversing  with  God. And when God had  finished  speaking  with  Moses,  He  gave  him  two  tables of stone,  on  which  were  written  the  Ten  Commandments. Now the people,  seeing  that  Moses  tarried  in  coming  down  from  the mountain, rose  up  against  Aaron  and  besought  him,  saying:  “Make us gods  that  may  go  before  us. For, as  to  this  Moses,  the  man that brought  us  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  we  know  not  what  has befallen him.”

Hoping to  dissuade  them  from  their  impious  project,  Aaron replied: “Take  the  golden  ear-rings  from  the  ears  of  your  wives, and your  sons  and  daughters,  and  bring  them  to  me.”  Contrary to his  expectation,  they  brought  their  rings  to  Aaron  who,  fearing to offer  resistance,  accepted  them,  and  made  a molten  calf,  and built an  altar. And the  people  exclaimed: “These  are  thy  gods, O Israel, that  have  brought  thee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt.”  Next morning they  offered  holocausts  and  peace-victims,  and  began  to eat  and  drink  and  to  dance,  after  the  manner  of  the  Egyptians.

Meanwhile Moses  came  down  from  the  mountain  with  the  two tables of  stone,  whereon  God  Himself  had  written  His  Command-