And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
Moses took the golden calf they had made and burned it in the fire. Then he ground it into powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.
Moses completely destroyed the golden idol the people had made and forced them to drink the powdered remains as a consequence of their betrayal.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Exodus, the Israelites had recently escaped from slavery in Egypt and were camped at Mount Sinai, where Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments from God. Growing impatient and fearful without Moses, they persuaded Aaron to create a golden calf idol for worship, which represented a betrayal of their covenant with God. When Moses returned and discovered their idolatry, he destroyed the idol by burning it, grinding it to powder, mixing it with water, and making the people drink it to illustrate the emptiness and consequences of their sin.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.