1)

What was Aharon thinking when he said "le'Mi Zahav"?

1.

Seforno: He thought that when he asked them for gold, they would take a long time to respond, because they did not have anything ready.

2)

How did Aharon excuse his actions?

1.

Rashi #1: He explained to Moshe that all he asked them was who possessed gold, and they took the initiative by taking off their rings and bringing them to him. 1

2.

Rashi #2, Seforno #1 and Targum Yonasan: He claimed that all he did was to throw the gold into the fire 2 and the Golden Calf emerged (Because the Satan emerged from the fire and made it - Targum Yonasan). 3

3.

Seforno #2: Refer to 32:24:0.1:1. And he was caught by surprise when they took off their rings immediately.

1

Refer to 32:4:2:1.

2

See Rashbam earlier, Pasuk 4.

3

In other words, all of his delaying tactics (as Rashi pointed out in Pasuk 4) proved unsuccessful.

3)

How could Aharon say "Vayeitzei ha'Eigel ha'Zeh", which suggests that the Eigel had supernatural powers?

1.

Rashi #1 and Seforno: It implies that Aharon did not know that a calf would emerge. 1

2.

Rashi #2 (in Megilah 25b) and R. Bachye: It implies that the Eigel had supernatural powers. 2

1

Refer to 32:4:1:1 & 2 and see Sifsei Chachamim.

2

Megilah 25b: And since we see that the Apikorsim did indeed extrapolate from Aharon's words that the Eigel possessed a spirit of life, Chazal warned that one should weigh one's words when making statements.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

4)

Rashi writes that Aharon merely threw the gold into the fire, and the Eigel emerged. But the Torah writes in Pasuk 4, that he formed it with a chisel before casting it in the fire?

1.

Refer to 32:4:1:1. 1

1

See also Sifsei Chachamim.

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