The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”
30. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said Inasmuch as this judgment of God was terrible, lest the Israelites should altogether fall into despair, Moses addresses a consolation to them to calm their sorrow, promising that he will make entreaty to God in their behalf.
Moses calls it a great sin so they will not think themselves innocent, and he shows them how difficult atonement is, he must go up to the Lord himself, and even then perhaps make peace. The malignity of sin appears in the price of pardons. He who undertook to make atonement found it no easy thing to do it.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 32:30-35
And Moses returned unto the Lord,.... On the mount where he was in the cloud: and said, oh, this people have sinned a great sin; which to following words explain; he confesses the same to God he had charged the people with in Exo 32:30, and have made them gods of gold; the golden calf, which they themselves called "Elohim", gods.