פירוש על שמות 32:27

כה אמר הי וגו׳ THUS SAITH THE LORD etc. — Where did he say so? In the command, (Exodus 22:19) “He that sacrificeth unto any god shall utterly be destroyed”. Thus is it stated in the Mechilta.

THUS SAITH THE ETERNAL, THE G-D OF ISRAEL. The reason for this expression³⁸³‘Elokei’ (the G-d of) Israel — the Divine Name which denotes the attribute of justice. is that since the worshippers of the calf had intended to sacrifice to the G-d of Israel, therefore the attribute of justice extracted punishment from them, because they “mutilated the shoots” [of faith],³⁸⁴See Note 308 above. and besides, for the judgment is G-d’s.³⁸⁵Deuteronomy 1:17. It is for this reason that he [Moses], said of the Levites, for the G-d of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel,³⁸⁶Numbers 16:9. for the Service is to the G-d of Israel, and to His Name they were separated by virtue of this meritorious deed.

עברו ושובו משער לשער; in order to secure atonement for those members of the people who had not actively participated in the sin but were guilty of not having protested the sin. By not now protesting the execution of the guilty ones either they proved deserving of being forgiven.