Exodus 32

“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of…” Naming Aaron and Break keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they…” Naming Egypt and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the…” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat…” The line’s distinctive content terms include offerings, rose, burnt. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have…” Naming Egypt and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include consume, nation, wrath. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD , why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” The line’s distinctive content terms include evil, LORD, people. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the…” Naming Joshua and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being…” The line’s distinctive content terms include voice, hear, mastery. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“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…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the…” Naming Whosoever keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD , even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Moses returned unto the LORD , and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Naming Moses and Whosoever keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.