Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.”
God's appointment of His angel proves His favor is restored, for He binds Himself to the covenant despite their apostasy. Yet He delays their punishment, an oblique condemnation of their perversity, as if to say they will furnish fresh occasions for it. When God later punishes their sins, He does not reckon this idolatry separately but accumulates their guilt under one judgment.
AI summary
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
The Lord plagued the people at certain times with pestilence and calamities because they made the calf, that is, they urged Aaron, solicited him, would not rest without it. The making of it is ascribed to them; they served and worshipped the idol they pressured him to fashion.
AI summary