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Exodus 32:17

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, 'It sounds like there's fighting in the camp.'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Joshua mistook the sounds of the Israelites celebrating around the golden calf for the sounds of battle.

📚 Historical Context

This occurs when Moses and Joshua are coming down from Mount Sinai after Moses received the Ten Commandments. While Moses was on the mountain for forty days, the Israelites had grown impatient and convinced Aaron to make a golden calf to worship. Joshua, who had waited partway down the mountain, could hear the commotion but couldn't see what was actually happening.

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