Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!aecom!poppers From: poppers@aecom.UUCP (Michael Poppers) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Plural/singular in "golden calf" incident Message-ID: <1049@aecom.UUCP> Date: Wed, 19-Dec-84 21:22:30 EST Article-I.D.: aecom.1049 Posted: Wed Dec 19 21:22:30 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 22-Dec-84 02:17:14 EST Distribution: net Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY Lines: 21 The key to Exodus 32 is understanding that the speakers of 32:4 are the "Eirev Rav," a "mixed multitude" of proselytes who became "gairim" when they saw what happened in and to Egypt before and after the actual Exodus. It is they who first lose their faith when Moses does not appear to be returning from Mount Sinai, it is they who fall back upon their alien gods as a result, and it is they who in turn corrupt B'nai Yisrael and cause them to worship the Golden Calf. The plural syntax thus refers to those gods, because it is they which the "m.m." is thinking about. However, the sin of B'nai Yisrael consisted of worshipping *one* idol, not many gods. When there is a national day of repentance in Nehemiah 9, they are reminded of that great sin. The "m.m." of Exodus have long since disappeared from the historical scene (at least, as presented by the TANACH). [][][][][][][][][] % PERITUS CLAVIS % Michael Poppers % MACHINAE VIVIT % {philabs,cucard,pegasus,rocky2}!aecom!poppers [][][][][][][][][]