93 



sociatioiis with the escape from Egyptian bondage, and other nii- 

 raculons dehverances of fr«sh occurrence, and of great importance 

 to the national prosperity, as well as glory. That this standard was 

 the compound figure of the t"!hprubim, appears from its construction, 

 and its position ; that it had long been used, is plain from this, 

 that in the order for the formation of that which was to be placed 

 in the ark, it is not described as a novel invention *, but referred 

 to as already well known by its name. It was therefore, as I con- 

 jecture, the already existing national standard of the Israelites 

 at the period ot which we speak. And the history of the idolatry of 

 the rebellious Hebrews serves very much to strengthen this opinion : 

 during the absence of Moses, who had acquired a powerful influence 

 over their minds, they are tempted to despise the denunciation 

 of the second commandment ; and, quitting both their devotion 

 to Him " who brought them out of the land of Egypt," and 

 their reverence for an emblem which He had sanctified, but hid- 

 den from their sensual perception, they apply to Aaron in these 

 words, " Up,-f make us Gods to go before us" — some visible 

 substance adapted to our gross intellect. They accordingly set 

 up at once, for their God and their leader, their idol and their 

 standard, the golden image of a calf. With an inconsistency 

 natural to the vulgar multitude, while " they J turned back 

 " again in their hearts into Egypt," and are " polluted with her 

 " idols," and copy her standard-worship, their theme of praise to 

 the object of their adoration, is, " these § be thy Gods, O Israel, 



* Of this opinion is Faber. 



t Exod. 30. I. 



X Ezek: 23. 30. 



j Exod : 32. 4 and 8. 



