And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
As soon as Moses came close to the camp and saw the golden calf and the people dancing around it, his anger burned hot. He threw the stone tablets out of his hands and shattered them at the bottom of the mountain.
Moses becomes furious when he sees the Israelites worshiping a golden calf, and in his anger he smashes the stone tablets containing God's commandments.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Exodus, Moses had been on Mount Sinai for forty days receiving the Ten Commandments from God, establishing a covenant with the Israelites. While he was away, the people grew impatient and fearful, leading Aaron to create a golden calf as an idol for them to worship, which represented a direct betrayal of God's commands. This event highlights the Israelites' struggle with idolatry shortly after their deliverance from Egypt.
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