Exodus 32:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’"

NIV: Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ "

NASB: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’?'

CSB: Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—you swore to them by yourself and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’"

NLT: Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’'

KJV: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

NKJV: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ”

Parents sometimes ask children questions when the answers are already known. Children sometimes tell parents things that everyone already knows. These are rhetorical devices. Usually, these underline some important point. Here, Moses is responding to God's anger at Israelite idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6). The Lord has said that He could destroy the Israelites and start over with Moses (Exodus 32:7–10).

Moses first responded by speaking of God's purposes. The Lord made promises about Israel and freed them from Egypt through miracles (Exodus 32:11). He also used these events to demonstrate His nature to the world (Exodus 32:12). Moses knows that the Lord will not break His word. The statement of this verse is less a plea, and more Moses expressing confident faith in God's goodness. One could interpret this as Abraham calming himself down by expressing what He knows about the Lord.

God promised to establish a great nation from Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 22:17; 28:14). This includes Abraham's son (Genesis 21:1–3) and grandson (Genesis 25:19–21, 26; 32:28). God could start over, of course. That wouldn't undo His promises since Moses is part of that line (Exodus 6:14–20). But destroying the recently freed people (Exodus 12:40–41; 19:1) would contradict all the work and messages the Lord has delivered so far. He has no intention of doing so (Exodus 32:14), but it is important the He clearly express His anger.

Exodus 32:7–14 describes the Lord's anger at Israel for their idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6). While Moses is away (Exodus 24:18), the people have begun to worship a golden statue. God suggests He will eradicate Israel and only spare Moses. Moses pleads with God, who stops discussing this reaction. This resembles how God graciously talked through the issue of Sodom with Abraham, to make a statement about divine justice (Genesis 18:27–33).

During Moses' long absence (Exodus 24:18), the Israelites lose patience. They demand that Aaron (Exodus 24:14) make them a god they can see. Aaron makes a gold idol from donated jewelry and the people worship it as God. On the mountain, God is furious and sends Moses back. Moses arrives, breaks the stone tablets of God's law which he carried, and destroys the idol. Moses then calls on loyal men to execute those responsible. Aaron is spared, but Israel can anticipate more punishment.

Moses went onto Sinai to communicate with the Lord (Exodus 24:12) and has been gone a long time (Exodus 24:18). He is receiving instructions from God (Exodus 25—31). Meanwhile, Israel falls into idolatry. They break the first two commandments just given at Sinai (Exodus 20:3–6). After delivering initial consequences, God commands Israel to move along and discusses how He will renew His covenant (Exodus 33—34).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.