John Calvin Commentary Exodus 32:2

"And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me." — Exodus 32:2 (ASV)

And Aaron said to them, Break off the golden earrings. I do not doubt that Aaron, being overcome by the persistent clamor of the people, attempted to escape by means of a subterfuge; still, this is no valid excuse for him, since he should have strongly opposed them in a direct reply, and sharply inveighed against their wicked renunciation of God. By commanding them to give him gold, he might have quieted their excessive demands through fear of the expense; but it was a remedy more likely to be successful to snatch from them those ornaments and trinkets of which women do not willingly allow themselves to be deprived. He therefore purposely requires from them a hateful, or at least a very unpleasant thing, so that he might thus hinder their sinful design; but without success, for the power of superstition to carry people away is no less than that of lust.

Perhaps he also had the tabernacle in view, to prevent them from sacrilegiously laying hands on the sacred vessels; and there was a probability that, if it remained uninjured, the sight of it might eventually bring them to a better state of mind. Besides, the recollection of their recent great generosity might have extinguished or cooled their enthusiasm, from the fear of being utterly drained.

He says emphatically, Break ³²⁷ off the ear-rings from your wives and children, so that they might desist from their purpose out of fear of causing offense, since women are slow to part with such objects of gratification. But it is added immediately afterwards, that they were so blinded by the fervor of their foolish zeal, that they undervalued everything in comparison with their perverse desire, and thus the ornaments were taken from their ears. The readiness with which this was done was astonishing; and not by one person, or by a few, but by the whole people, as if competing with each other.

Even in these days ear-rings are worn by ³²⁸ people in Eastern lands, though it is not so common among us. Now, if unbelievers are so lavish in their absurdities as to throw away so carelessly and rashly whatever is precious to them, how can the tightfistedness of those who are so stingy in providing for the service of God be excused? Therefore, let us learn to be careful not to foolishly squander our possessions on unnecessary expenses, and to be generous where we should be; especially to be ready to spend ourselves, and what we have, when we know that our offerings are pleasing and acceptable to God.

³²⁷ Auferte. — Lat..

³²⁸ “The ear-rings now worn in the East are various in form and size. They are generally thick, sometimes fitting close to the ear, and in other instances very large, perhaps three or four inches in diameter, and so heavy as greatly to distend the lobe of the ear, at the same time enlarging in a very disagreeable manner the orifice made for the inserting of the ring.” — Illustrated Commentary in loco..