John Calvin Commentary Exodus 23:24

"Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars." — Exodus 23:24 (ASV)

You shall not bow down to their gods. Moses repeats what had been said before, that the worship of God must be separated from all the superstitions of the Gentiles; for this error has been widespread everywhere, that unbelievers would rather bring God down to themselves on earth than ascend above to seek Him.

And in this sense, we have said that idols are called gods, because anyone who represents God by wood and stone inevitably associates Him with corruptible matter. Experience also teaches us that all the wicked are so attached to their idols that they gain nothing by their subterfuge when they claim that this is a necessary help for their ignorance.

The following clause, nor do after their works, sufficiently proves that all corrupt worship is included under the term idolatry.

You shall utterly overthrow them. I indeed allow that these supplements would partly agree with, and be applicable to, the First Commandment; but since express mention is made everywhere in them of idols, this place seems to be better suited to them.

After Moses has taught what was necessary to be observed, he adds a political law about breaking down altars and overthrowing images, so that the people might take more diligent heed.

These passages, however, differ from the previous ones; for in condemning so far the superstitions which are vicious in themselves, God prescribed what He would have observed even to the end of the world. He now confirms that instruction by temporary enactments, so that He might keep His ancient people to their duty.

For we nowadays have no scruples in retaining the temples, which have been polluted by idols, and applying them to a better use, since we are not bound by what was added consequently (propter consequentiam), as they say, to the Law.

I indeed admit that whatever tends to foster superstition should be removed, provided we are not too rigorously superstitious in insisting peremptorily on what is in itself indifferent.

The sum amounts to this: that to show more clearly how greatly God detests idolatry, He would have the memory of all those things abolished which had once been dedicated to idols.

The second passage more fully unfolds what Moses had briefly referred to in the first; for under the word “image,” he included all those tokens of idolatry which he afterwards enumerates, and of which he commands the whole land to be so cleared that no relics of them should remain.

From the words, when you have come into the land “to possess it,” Augustine ²⁹⁷ sensibly infers that there is no command for private individuals to destroy the instruments of idolatry; but that the people are armed and furnished with this authority to take charge of regulating public interests, when they have obtained possession of the land.

The third passage is more brief, only enumerating three kinds; the fourth adds “graven images,” (sculptilia).

The fifth omits the groves, and puts in their place images or representations made of molten materials; and here we must observe what we have before referred to, that the name of statue (statuoe) is sometimes taken in a good sense; and therefore the Jews think that what was permitted to the fathers before the Law is now forbidden.

To us, however, it seems more probable that the statues now condemned are not such as Jacob erected only as a monument, but such as they pretended to be a likeness of God.

Some translate the word “titles,” ²⁹⁸ others “pictures,” with what propriety I leave to the judgment of my readers.

He adds “image,” ²⁹⁹ a word which, though not in itself sinful, is still deservedly rejected in connection with the worship of God.

Man is the image of God, for Moses uses this same word when relating the creation of man.

But to represent God by any figure before which He is worshipped is nothing less than to corrupt His glory and so to metamorphose Him.

By speaking of molten images, he permits neither sculptures nor pictures; but since they are generally cast in the precious metals, the people were expressly to be wary of keeping gods of gold or silver for ornament.

²⁹⁷ “Hostes nos dicunt idolorum suorum. Sic praestet Deus, et det omnia in potestate, quomodo dedit quod fractum est. Hoc enim dicimus caritati vestrae, ne faciatis ista, quando in porestate vestra non est, ut faciatis illud. Pravorum hominum est, furiosorum Circumcellionum, et ubi potestatem non habent saevire, et velle mort properant sine causa. Audistis quae vobis legimus, omnes qui nuper in Mappalibus adfuistis. ‘Cum data vobis fuerit terra in potestatem (prius ait in potestatem, et sic dixit quae facienda sunt; ) aras eorum, inquit, destruetis, lucos eorum comminuetis, et omnes titulos eorum confringetis.’ (.’ (Deuteronomy 7:1, and , and Deuteronomy 12:9.) .) Cum acceperitis potestatem, hoc facite. Ubi nobis non est data potestas, non facimus; ubi data est, non praetermittimus,” etc. — Aug. Serm. 62 (Opp. Edit. Bened. T.v.p. 364.),” etc. — Aug. Serm. 62 (Opp. Edit. Bened. T.v.p. 364.)

²⁹⁸Numbers 33:52, , משכיתם A.V., their pictures. their pictures.

²⁹⁹ צלמי, tsalemey —— “metallicmetallic talismanical figures, made under certain constellations, and supposed, in consequence, to be possessed of some extraordinary influences and virtues.” — Ad. Clarke, figures, made under certain constellations, and supposed, in consequence, to be possessed of some extraordinary influences and virtues.” — Ad. Clarke, in loco.