Why was Moses do when the Isrealites created the Golden Calf?

Answer 1

According to the Tanach (Jewish Bible) and Jewish teachings, the Israelites began to worship the golden calf because they began to lose faith in HaShem (The Creator) because Moshe (Moses) was gone for so long.

It is very important to note that the Tanach is very clear that it was only men who worshiped the calf and not a single female participated nor did any male from the tribe of Levi.

Answer 2

The Hebrew people were polytheistic right down to the religious reforms of King Josiah, in the seventh century BCE, and some scholars say that these reforms were only partly successful until at least the time of the Babylonian Exile. The notion of the Hebrews as monotheistic followers of God was written back into the history from the seventh century BCE onwards, but there are occasional glimpses of what the Israelites really believed.

Of course, the story of the golden calf in the Exodus from Egypt should not be read as suggesting that the Israelites foolishly thought that if they made an idol and worshipped it, then good things would happen. Nor should it be read as suggesting that the Israelites suddenly decided to worship animals.

The golden calf was a symbol of the moon god, whom the early Israelites worshipped. We see a further reference to the golden calf at 1 Kings chapter 12, the Israelite king Jeroboam made two calves of gold, setting one up in Bethel and one in Dan. He made priests and ordained a national feast day to the god symbolised by these calves, and the people came to worship.

The story of the golden calf on the Exodus from Egypt is no doubt legendary, but it reflects the very real beliefs of the Hebrew people in the first millennium BCE, when The Bible was being written.

Answer 3

Answer:According to Exodus 32, Aaron built an altar and declared a feast day, the people made burnt offerings and peace offerings, ate and drank, and "rose up to play" (probably a reference to sexual impropriety). The account also mentions singing and dancing. It was apparently quite a riotous affair, as Joshua first thought the din from the camp was "a noise of war" (Ex. 32:17).

Also the people of Israel worshiped the golden calf with song, dance and drink. These people felt comfort in the worship of a God that they could see, unlike Moses's God Jehovah, who they believe to be invisible even though he had preformed many miracles to save them from slavery from the Egyptians. Aaron, Moses's brother was demanded to construct this golden calf while Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights receiving the 10 Commandments from God. Aaron knew that the construction of this golden staff would be a sin however he asked for Gods forgiveness and did what the people demanded him to do. If he would have refused he would have been killed as well as Moses and/or their sister Merriam.

Answer 4

A:The term idol is simply used as a pejorative to describe any representation of a god other than the Abrahamic God. Assuming that the golden calf was not intended for the worship of Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, then it would be called an idol.

Answer 5

It violates the commandment against making statues and images (in Exodus ch.20).

So why did they do it?

The Golden Calf (Exodus ch.32) was a case of taking the initiative.

It was a one-time error which was quickly and decisively stamped out. And while it was a serious offense, it may be a bit less of a puzzle if we consider the following:

1) It seemed that Moses had died (Rashi commentary, Exodus 32:1); and they wanted something or someone to lead them (Exodus 32:1). They felt that this (seemingly) drastic circumstance justified quickly taking unusual measures.

2) They had a tradition that they would eventually build an edifice to God (Rashi, Exodus 26:15); and, not yet having been commanded as to the details (the Tabernacle), they thought that they might now improvise.

3) The actual intent was not to worship the Golden Calf itself, but to worship the Presence of God (Exodus 32:5) which (they hoped) would dwell upon it.

4) The entire event was instigated by Egyptians (Rashi, Exodus 32:4) who had recently joined among the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38).

5) Those who sinned were, at most, in the thousands (Exodus 32:28). Not hundreds of thousands.

6) That generation was judged by an exacting standard, precisely because they were on a high level (Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi).

7) In each era, there are different spiritual tests. The (main) test in ancient times was whether people would succumb to the lure of idolatry and its preludes. This powerful lure has since been emasculated (Talmud, Yoma 69b), so it is hard for us now to fully comprehend.

Answer 6

The golden calf was a common Near Eastern symbol of the moon god. In the Bible, we see the Israelites worshipping the golden calf during the Exodus, then next during the reign of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern Hebrew kingdom. Although few references have survived in the Bible, the moon god was clearly an important part of ancient Israelite culture.

For more information, please visit: http://christianity.answers.com/bible/the-book-of-exodus

Answer 7

The Golden Calf (Exodus ch.32) was a serious sin but was quickly and decisively stamped out. It may be a bit less of a puzzle if we consider the following:
1) It seemed that Moses had died (Rashi commentary, Exodus 32:1); and they wanted something or someone to lead them. They felt that this (seemingly) drastic circumstance justified quickly taking unusual measures.
2) They had a tradition that they would eventually build an edifice to God (Rashi commentary, Exodus 26:15); and, not yet having been commanded as to the details, they thought that they might now improvise.
3) The actual intent was not so much to worship the Golden Calf itself, but to worship the Presence of God (Exodus 32:5) which (they hoped) would dwell upon it.
4) The entire event was instigated by Egyptians (Rashi, Exodus 32:4) who had recently joined the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38).
5) Those who sinned were, at most, in the thousands (Exodus 32:28). Not hundreds of thousands.
6) That generation was judged by an exacting standard, precisely because they were on a high level (Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi).
7) In each era, there are different spiritual tests. The (main) test in ancient times was whether people would succumb to the lure of idolatry and its preludes. This powerful lure has since been emasculated (Talmud, Yoma 69b), so it is hard for us now to fully comprehend.

See also:

http://judaism.answers.com/jewish-history/judaism-and-monotheism

Answer 8

The Golden Calf (Exodus ch.32) was a serious sin but was quickly and decisively stamped out. It may be a bit less of a puzzle if we consider the following:

1) It seemed that Moses had died (Rashi commentary, Exodus 32:1); and they wanted something or someone to lead them. They felt that this (seemingly) drastic circumstance justified quickly taking unusual measures.

2) They had a tradition that they would eventually build an edifice to God (Rashi, Exodus 26:15); and, not yet having been commanded as to the details, they thought that they might now improvise.

3) The actual intent was not so much to worship the Golden Calf itself, but to worship the Presence of God (Exodus 32:5) which (they hoped) would dwell upon it.

4) The entire event was instigated by Egyptians (Rashi, Exodus 32:4) who had recently joined the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38).

5) Those who sinned were, at most, in the thousands (Exodus 32:28). Not hundreds of thousands.

6) That generation was judged by an exacting standard, precisely because they were on a high level (- Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi).

7) In each era, there are different spiritual tests. The (main) test in ancient times was whether people would succumb to the lure of idolatry and its preludes. This powerful lure has since been emasculated (Talmud, Yoma 69b), so it is hard for us now to fully comprehend.

Answer 9

Read literally, the Exodus story of the Israelites suddenly worshipping the golden calf does not make sense. The Israelites had just been delivered from Egypt, through the intervention of God. God had parted the Sea for them and destroyed the pursuing Egyptian army. The Israelites had also been provided by God with ample manna for food. Yet as soon as Moses and Joshua are absent, they demand that Aaron make them a golden calf to worship. The story, as written in the Bible, is irrational.

The golden calf was used throughout the ancient Near East as the symbol of the moon god, Sin, and there are numerous suggestions in the Book of Exodus that point to the influence of Sin, including one to the "wilderness of Sin" (night time). Similarly, there are numerous references in Exodus and throughout the Bible, that link Joshua to the sun god, at least before the story evolved into depicting him as a mortal hero.

Now the underlying story can be read as a simple and rational account, before it was edited by later, monotheistic authors. When the sun god, Joshua, was away (on the mountain) the people worshipped the moon god. The alternate worshipping of the sun god and the moon god is a common motif in the ancient Near East.

Answer 10

The Golden Calf (Exodus ch.32) was a case of taking the initiative.
It was a one-time error which was quickly and decisively stamped out. And while it was a serious offense, it may be a bit less of a puzzle if we consider the following:
1) It seemed that Moses had died (Rashi commentary, Exodus 32:1); and they wanted something or someone to lead them (Exodus 32:1). They felt that this (seemingly) drastic circumstance justified quickly taking unusual measures.
2) They had a tradition that they would eventually build an edifice to God (Rashi, Exodus 26:15); and, not yet having been commanded as to the details (the Tabernacle), they thought that they might now improvise.
3) The actual intent was not to worship the Golden Calf itself, but to worship the Presence of God (Exodus 32:5) which (they hoped) would dwell upon it.
4) The entire event was instigated by Egyptians (Rashi, Exodus 32:4) who had recently joined among the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38).
5) Those who sinned were, at most, in the thousands (Exodus 32:28). Not hundreds of thousands.
6) That generation was judged by an exacting standard, precisely because they were on a high level (Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi).
7) In each era, there are different spiritual tests. The (main) test in ancient times was whether people would succumb to the lure of idolatry and its preludes. This powerful lure has since been emasculated (Talmud, Yoma 69b), so it is hard for us now to fully comprehend.

See also:

Were the early Israelites monotheistic?

More about the Hebrew Bible

Jewish history timeline