Exodus 32:6

So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records the Israelites' actions the day after Aaron builds an altar for a golden calf and proclaims a feast to the LORD. This moment follows the covenant breach and precedes God's direct confrontation with Moses.

The words — The text employs וַ/יַּשְׁכּ֙ימוּ֙ (va/i.yash.Ki.mu), literally "they rose early," and שְׁלָמִ֑ים (she.la.Mim), literally "peace offerings," to document the morning sacrifices. These terms establish the ritual sequence before the communal meal.

The thread — 1 Corinthians 10:7 quotes this scene to warn against idolatry, while Acts 7:41 notes the rejoicing over the crafted idol. Numbers 25:2 parallels the pattern of eating and drinking at pagan altars before covenant violation.

Why it lands — The text reports ritual sacrifice followed by revelry without editorial comment. The reader must confront how formal worship can coexist with covenant betrayal when the heart pursues self-directed celebration.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיַּשְׁכִּ֙ימוּ֙va/i.yash.Ki.muand/ they rose early מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi./mo.cho.Ratfrom/ [the] next day וַיַּעֲל֣וּva/i.ya.'a.Luand/ they offered up עֹלֹ֔ת'o.Lotburnt offerings וַיַּגִּ֖שׁוּva/i.ya.Gi.shuand/ they brought near שְׁלָמִ֑יםshe.la.Mimpeace offerings וַיֵּ֤שֶׁבva/i.Ye.shevand/ it sat down הָעָם֙ha./'Amthe/ people לֶֽאֱכֹ֣לle./'e.Kholto/ eat וְשָׁת֔וֹve./sha.Toand/ to drink וַיָּקֻ֖מוּva/i.ya.Ku.muand/ they arose לְצַחֵֽק׃ פle./tza.Chekto/ play

King James Version

And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 10:7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”
Numbers 25:2 who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods.
Acts 7:41 At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.
Exodus 32:17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.”
Exodus 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Judges 16:23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”
Amos 2:8 They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.
Amos 8:10 I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day.
Revelation 11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.