John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:7

"Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." — 1 Corinthians 10:7 (ASV)

Neither be you idolaters. He touches upon the history recorded in Exodus 32:7 and following. For when Moses made a longer stay upon the mountain than the unseemly fickleness of the people could endure, Aaron was constrained to make a calf and set it up as an object of worship. Not that the people wished to change their God, but rather to have some visible token of God’s presence, in accordance with their carnal understanding. God, in punishing this idolatry at that time with the greatest severity, showed by that example how much he abhors idolatry.

As it is written, The people sat down. This passage is rightly interpreted by few, for they understand intemperance among the people to have been the occasion of wantonness, in accordance with the common proverb, “Dancing comes after a full diet.” But Moses speaks of a sacred feast, or in other words, what they celebrated in honor of the idol.

Hence feasting and play were two appendages of idolatry. For it was customary, both among the people of Israel and among the devotees of superstition, to have a feast in connection with a sacrifice as a part of divine worship, at which no profane or unclean persons were allowed to be present. The Gentiles, in addition to this, appointed sacred games in honor of their idols, in conformity with which the Israelites undoubtedly on that occasion worshipped their calf, for such is the presumption of the human mind, that it ascribes to God whatever pleases itself. Hence the Gentiles have fallen into such a depth of infatuation as to believe that their gods are delighted with the basest spectacles, immodest dances, impurity of speech, and every kind of obscenity. Hence, in imitation of them, the Israelite people, having observed their sacred banquet, rose up to celebrate the games, so that nothing might be lacking in honor of the idol. This is the true and simple meaning.

But here it is asked why the Apostle mentions the feast and the games rather than adoration, for this is the chief thing in idolatry, while the other two things were merely appendages. The reason is that he selected what best suited the case of the Corinthians. For it is not likely that they frequented the assemblies of the wicked for the purpose of prostrating themselves before the idols, but rather partook of their feasts, held in honor of their deities, and did not keep at a distance from those base ceremonies, which were tokens of idolatry. It is not, therefore, without good reason that the Apostle declares that their particular form of offense is expressly condemned by God. He intimates, in short, that no part of idolatry can be touched without contracting pollution, and that those who defile themselves with the outward tokens of idolatry will not escape punishment from the hand of God.