[net.religion.jewish] Plural/singular in "golden calf" incident

poppers@aecom.UUCP (Michael Poppers) (12/20/84)

	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).


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