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Part 1
This short lesson is a supplement to Fr. Jonathan’s post Liturgical talk about the restoration of Icons and the refutation of Protestant accusations of Idolatry by “icon worship”. As Fr Jonathan calls to mind ‘idolatry’ and ‘worship’ need to be properly defined in the practices of the ancient Hebrews and Early Christian church tradition.
Let us begin by familiarizing ourselves with the Septuagint Psalm 105 (Masoretic 106), as it explicitly portrays the idolatry that was forbidden by God in the Old Testament. While the whole psalm is important, critical verses will be highlighted in red.
Give Thanks to the LORD, for He Is Good
1(105:1) Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
2(105:2) Who shall tell the mighty acts of the Lord? who shall cause all his praises to be heard?
3(105:3) Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do righteousness at all times.
4(105:4) Remember us, O Lord, with the favour thou hast to thy people: visit us with thy salvation;
5(105:5) that we may behold the good of thine elect, that we may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that we may glory with thine inheritance.
6(105:6) We have sinned with our fathers, we have transgressed, we have done unrighteously.
7(105:7) Our fathers in Egypt understood not thy wonders, and remembered not the multitude of thy mercy; but provoked him as they went up by the Red Sea.
8(105:8) Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might cause his mighty power to be known.
9(105:9) And he rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up: so he led them through the deep as through the wilderness.
10(105:10) And he saved them out of the hand of them that hated them, and redeemed them out of the hand of the enemy.
11(105:11) The water covered those that oppressed them: there was not one of them left.
12(105:12) Then they believed his words, and celebrated his praise.
13(105:13) They made haste, they forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel.
14(105:14) And they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the dry land.
15(105:15) And he gave them their request, and sent fullness into their souls.
16(105:16) They provoked Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the holy one of the Lord.
17(105:17) The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and closed upon the congregation of Abiron.
18(105:18) And a fire was kindled in their congregation, and a flame burnt up the sinners.
19(105:19) And they made a calf in Choreb, and worshipped the graven image,
20(105:20) and they changed their glory into the similitude of a calf that feeds on grass.
21(105:21) They forgot God that saved them, who had wrought great deeds in Egypt;
22(105:22) wondrous works in the land of Cham, and terrible things at the Red Sea.
23(105:23) So he said that he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn him away from the fierceness of his anger, so that he should not destroy them.
24(105:24) Moreover they set at nought the desirable land, and believed not his word.
25(105:25) And they murmured in their tents: they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord.
26(105:26) So he lifted up his hand against them, to cast them down in the wilderness;
27(105:27) and to cast down their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in the countries.
28(105:28) They were joined also to Beelphegor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. And they provoked him with their devices;
29(105:29) and destruction, was multiplied among them.
30(105:30) Then Phinees stood up, and made atonement: and the plague ceased.
31(105:31) And it was counted to him for righteousness, to all generations for ever.
32(105:32) They provoked him also at the water of Strife, and Moses was hurt for their sakes;
33(105:33) for they provoked his spirit, and he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
34(105:34) They destroyed not the nations which the Lord told them to destroy;
35(105:35) but were mingled with the heathen, and learned their works.
36(105:36) And they served their graven images; and it became an offence to them.
37(105:37) And they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils,
38(105:38) and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Chanaan; and the land was defiled with blood.
39(105:39) and was polluted with their works; and they went a whoring with their own devices.
40(105:40) So the Lord was very angry with his people, and he abhorred his inheritance.
41(105:41) And he delivered them into the hands of their enemies; and they that hated them ruled over them.
42(105:42) And their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought down under their hands.
43(105:43) Many a time he delivered them; but they provoked him by their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquities.
44(105:44) Ye the Lord looked upon their affliction, when he heard their petition.
45(105:45) And he remembered his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercy.
46(105:46) And he caused them to be pitied in the sight of all who carried them captive.
47(105:47) Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, that we may glory in thy praise.
48(105:48) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting; and all the people shall say, Amen, Amen.
Explanation of Psalm 105:19-20
(105:19) And they made a calf in Choreb, and worshipped the graven image,
(105:20) and they changed their glory into the similitude of a calf that feeds on grass.
This passage refers to the Golden Calf incident at Mount Horeb (Choreb), recorded in Exodus 32. The Israelites, after Moses ascended the mountain to receive the Law, impatiently demanded a visible god, leading Aaron to create a golden calf from their jewelry. This act of idolatry was one of Israel’s greatest spiritual failures, as they forsook the glory of the invisible God for the image of a mere animal.
Theological Significance of Horeb (Choreb)
Horeb as the Mountain of Divine Revelation
Horeb (also identified with Mount Sinai) is where God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-2) and later gave the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20).
It is the place of divine covenant, marking Israel’s transformation into God’s chosen people.
The golden calf episode at Horeb is a direct violation of the covenant, as they break the first and second commandments (Exodus 20:3-4) at the very place where God’s law was given.
Horeb as a Place of Apostasy and Judgment
Instead of worshiping the invisible, transcendent God, the Israelites returned to pagan imagery, equating Yahweh with a calf, a creature that eats grass.
Their idolatry led to divine wrath—Moses destroyed the calf, ground it to powder, mixed it with water, and forced the people to drink it (Exodus 32:20) as a sign of their corruption.
God sent a plague and commanded the Levites to slay 3,000 idolaters (Exodus 32:27-28) as punishment.
Why a Calf? The Symbolism of the Golden Calf
The choice of a calf (young bull) was not arbitrary; it had cultural and religious significance in the ancient Near East.
Egyptian Influence: The Apis Bull Cult
In Egypt, the Apis bull was worshiped as a manifestation of Ptah, Osiris, and later Horus.
The Apis bull was believed to be a living god, a symbol of strength, fertility, and divine kingship.
Many Israelites had lived in Egypt for generations and were likely influenced by these visual, tangible deities, leading them to adopt a familiar religious symbol.
Canaanite and Mesopotamian Bull Worship
The bull was sacred in Canaanite religion, representing gods like Baal and El, both depicted as bull-like figures.
In Mesopotamian traditions, gods such as Hadad and Marduk were also associated with bulls and calves as symbols of power.
Misrepresentation of Yahweh
The golden calf was not necessarily a new god but a misrepresentation of Yahweh, which is why Aaron declared: "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt" (Exodus 32:4).
This was a reduction of the divine to a manageable, physical form, violating the command to have no graven images (Exodus 20:4-5).
Psalm 106:20 (parallel to Psalm 105:20) says, “They exchanged their glory for the image of a bull that eats grass,” showing how they lowered God’s glory to an earthly creature.
How Did They Worship the Golden Calf?
The worship of the golden calf involved several elements typical of pagan religious rituals:
Idol Construction
Aaron collected gold jewelry from the people and fashioned it into a calf (Exodus 32:2-4).
It was likely a metal-covered wooden image, similar to Egyptian cult statues.
The gold plating symbolized divinity and royal power.
Bowing and Sacrifices
The Israelites offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the golden calf (Exodus 32:6).
Sacrifices were a way of dedicating the idol and seeking its favor.
Ritual Dancing and Music
The people danced, sang, and celebrated wildly around the calf (Exodus 32:19).
The word used for "play" (צָ×—ַק, tsachaq) can imply sexual immorality and pagan revelry, indicating a fertility cult-like worship.
Syncretism – Mixing Yahweh Worship with Pagan Practices
Aaron attempted to blend Yahweh worship with idol worship, proclaiming a “feast to the Lord” (YHWH) the next day (Exodus 32:5).
This shows how idolatry corrupts true worship, as they claimed to worship God while engaging in paganism.
What Kind of Graven Image Was Made?
Metal-Covered Wooden Idol – The description in Exodus suggests the calf was first carved from wood and then covered in molten gold, a common method of idol-making in the ancient world.
Standing or Reclining Bull – The image may have resembled Egyptian Apis bulls or Canaanite Baal bulls, often depicted standing with horns raised.
Portable Size – The fact that Moses burned it, ground it to powder, and made the Israelites drink it suggests it was small enough to be destroyed, possibly a gold-plated wooden figure rather than a solid gold statue.
Theological Implications of the Golden Calf Incident
Idolatry is a Rejection of God’s Glory
The Israelites traded the invisible, infinite glory of God for a finite, earthly image.
Romans 1:22-23 echoes this: "They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."
Human Desire for a Tangible Deity
People often struggle with faith in the unseen God, leading them to create physical representations.
However, the true God cannot be reduced to an image (Deuteronomy 4:15-16).
Idolatry Leads to Moral Corruption
The revelry and immoral acts that followed calf worship show how false worship distorts human behavior.
The event foreshadowed Israel’s later struggles with idolatry, ultimately leading to their exile (2 Kings 17:7-23, 2 Chronicles 36:14-19).
Judgment and Intercession
Moses’ breaking of the tablets symbolized the broken covenant.
His intercession for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14) prefigures Christ’s intercession for sinners (Hebrews 7:25).
Summary
Psalm 105:19-20 recalls the golden calf rebellion, highlighting Israel’s failure to trust God at Horeb, the very place of divine revelation. The calf symbolized pagan influence, particularly from Egypt and Canaan, and represented a distortion of Yahweh worship. Archaeological evidence, such as Egyptian Apis bull statues and Canaanite Baal-bull figurines, confirms the commonality of bovine worship in the ancient world. Ultimately, the golden calf incident illustrates the danger of idolatry, the human tendency to seek visible gods, and the importance of true, uncorrupted worship of the one true God.
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